Bitwise Chief Investment Officer Matt Hougan said crypto will keep moving forward even if the Clarity Act fails to pass this week. The bill faces a narrow window before the U.S. Senate begins its summer recess on Aug. 10, and the timing makes the vote a test of whether lawmakers can advance market-structure rules before the session pause.

Lawmakers are scheduled to return on Sept. 11, leaving only a few days for the measure to clear the chamber. Hougan said the industry could still receive regulatory clarity through the Securities and Exchange Commission if Congress does not pass the legislation, which matters because the debate is not only about one bill but about which branch sets the framework for digital asset oversight.

Clarity Act Faces Tight Senate Deadline

Hougan wrote in a Tuesday blog post that crypto would “find a way forward” without the bill. He said the SEC could create rules covering the same areas addressed by the legislation.

SEC Chair Paul Atkins has said the agency can address market issues through regulation. Hougan said he expects such rules to be more supportive of innovation than a bipartisan law passed by Congress.

At the same time, he warned that SEC rules could be easier for a future administration to change. A later chair could take a less supportive approach toward digital assets, which is one reason the legislative route remains important even if regulation can fill the gap in the near term.

Wall Street Adoption Supports Crypto Growth

Hougan said financial firms have moved too deeply into blockchain markets for regulators to reverse all progress. He pointed to BlackRock, Nasdaq, JPMorgan and Visa.

According to Hougan, these firms already offer or support products tied to digital assets, payments, trading and tokenization. That broad participation shows why the policy discussion now extends beyond native crypto firms and into established financial infrastructure. He said that level of involvement gives the sector time to expand before a new administration appoints another SEC chair.

Hougan estimated that crypto could have two and a half years to grow under SEC-led rules. By then, he said, the market may be too established to roll back fully.

Bill Could Return Later in 2026

Hougan said the Clarity Act could enter a prolonged pause if it misses this week’s vote. Lawmakers may revisit it in the fall or winter.

He also said the bill could be folded into a larger year-end spending package, which would force lawmakers to vote on multiple measures at once.

Hougan said a lengthy delay would keep professional investors cautious. Polymarket currently gives the bill a 23% chance of becoming law before the end of 2026.

Political Disputes Remain Unresolved

Democratic lawmakers continue to raise concerns about President Donald Trump’s crypto interests. Senators and tribal gaming regulators also want limits on sports prediction markets.

Hougan nevertheless said Congress should pass the Clarity Act. He said the bill would support investor protection, ethics rules and U.S. competition in onchain finance.

The post Clarity Act Failure Will Not Stop Crypto Growth: Hougan appeared first on CoinCentral.