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The Digital Asset Market Clarity Act continues to move through Congress on schedule, according to a senior Coinbase executive, despite growing impatience across the crypto industry. Speaking on CNBC, Coinbase Institutional's Head of Strategy, John D’Agostino, said the pace reflects the bill’s scope and long-term importance for digital asset markets.
He said lawmakers face a foundational task that requires time, since the CLARITY Act defines market structure rules that affect the entire crypto ecosystem. D’Agostino compared the proposal with the GENIUS Act, which became US law in July 2025, noting clear differences in complexity and structure.
He labeled the GENIUS Act as revolutionary; at the same time, he said that it was tackling easier problems than the wide-ranging market structure legislation, such as the CLARITY Act. What is the reason for the United States to risk falling behind if the crypto market regulations take more time than the ones set by the global competitors?
D’Agostino said confidence around the CLARITY Act remains strong as governments worldwide adopt clearer crypto frameworks and push ahead with enforcement. He pointed to Europe’s progress, including Spain’s rollout of the European Union’s Markets in Crypto Assets Regulation and the Directive on Administrative Cooperation, known as DAC8.
He also referenced regulatory advances in the United Arab Emirates, where authorities continue to publish clearer rules for digital asset firms. According to D’Agostino, these developments add pressure on US lawmakers who aim to protect the country’s leadership in crypto and emerging technologies.
He said competition from other regions grows tighter each year, creating urgency for Congress to finalize comprehensive market structure legislation.
D’Agostino said the United States faces a growing loss of crypto talent to jurisdictions with clearer rules and faster regulatory action. He explained that lawmakers rushed to pass the GENIUS Act to slow that trend and retain innovation within US borders.
He added that similar urgency may reappear once Congress resumes sessions and reviews global regulatory momentum. Support for a January breakthrough has also come from the White House, including comments from AI and crypto czar David Sacks.
Sacks said in December that the CLARITY Act could receive approval in January, aligning with President Donald Trump’s call for landmark crypto legislation. D’Agostino said passing the CLARITY Act would mark a major milestone for US crypto policy as lawmakers seek to avoid falling behind in artificial intelligence and blockchain innovation.
Also Read: Coinbase Gains India Approval for CoinDCX Minority Stake
Coinbase says the CLARITY Act crypto bill follows a deliberate timeline due to its complex market structure scope. Executives cite global regulatory momentum and talent migration as growing pressure on US lawmakers. A January window remains central as Congress weighs maintaining leadership in crypto and blockchain innovation.
