Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has called on Congress to pass the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act despite mounting resistance in the Senate, joining a coalition of industry leaders who argue the bill would deliver much-needed regulatory certainty and stronger consumer protections.

The Clarity Act is part of a broader multi-year Congressional effort to establish a comprehensive federal framework for digital assets, an area where U.S. law has historically lacked clear lines between securities and commodities oversight. The absence of a defined regulatory perimeter has drawn criticism from both industry participants and policymakers for years.

Garlinghouse voiced his support in response to a post on X by Ripple Chief Legal Officer Stuart Alderoty, who urged lawmakers not to let political disagreements block legislation establishing clear federal rules for the digital asset industry.

"My thoughts exactly. Perfect can't be the enemy of good. Let's get this done!" Garlinghouse wrote.

My thoughts exactly…. Perfect can't be the enemy of good. Let's get this done! — Brad Garlinghouse (@bgarlinghouse) July 22, 2026

Alderoty Outlines the Bill's Provisions

According to Alderoty, the Clarity Act would strengthen consumer protection by introducing federal standards for digital assets. He explained that the legislation includes enhanced anti-money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) requirements, along with expanded enforcement authority for law enforcement agencies and state attorneys general.

Alderoty argued that failing to pass the bill would leave consumers exposed to unclear regulations, allowing bad actors to exploit existing regulatory gaps once again.

Senate Opposition Mounts

The push from Ripple's leadership comes as the legislation faces increasing political headwinds in the Senate. Several Democratic senators have opposed the latest version of the bill, including Maryland Senator Angela Alsobrooks, New Jersey Senator Cory Booker, Nevada Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, and Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego.

Expectations for the legislation have weakened accordingly. According to Polymarket data, the bill's chances of becoming law in 2026 were estimated at slightly above 40%.

Joshua Riezman of GSR cautioned that disagreements outside the bill's primary objective should not derail broader market structure reforms. He argued that rejecting the proposal would preserve regulatory uncertainty rather than improve oversight. Riezman further warned that prolonged delays could drive digital asset innovation beyond U.S. borders, a concern that has grown as other jurisdictions, including the European Union with its Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation, have moved ahead with their own comprehensive frameworks. Riezman added that lawmakers risk wasting years of bipartisan negotiations if they fail to advance the legislation.

Coinbase CEO Armstrong Adds His Voice

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong also backed the Clarity Act, urging senators to bring the legislation to a full floor vote. Armstrong described the proposal as the product of thousands of hours of bipartisan negotiations between lawmakers and industry participants.

The Clarity Act is ready for a full Senate floor vote. The bill represents a true bipartisan compromise with thousands of hours of work on both sides, and it couldn't come at a better time. The status quo in the U.S. isn't working. There's no federal framework, so bad actors… pic.twitter.com/8HQvp8iSrw — Brian Armstrong (@brian_armstrong) July 22, 2026

Armstrong argued that the current regulatory framework has failed to protect consumers while encouraging many digital asset businesses to operate outside the United States. He pointed to the collapse of FTX as an example of the consequences of regulatory ambiguity, maintaining that a clear federal framework would improve consumer protection and strengthen oversight.

Armstrong also noted that digital assets have become a permanent fixture of the financial system, urging lawmakers to establish consistent federal rules that both support innovation and protect consumers.

United Industry Front

Garlinghouse, Alderoty, Armstrong, and other industry figures have united behind the Clarity Act as Senate opposition grows. While political divisions remain, supporters contend that passing the legislation would provide long-awaited regulatory clarity and enhanced consumer protections for the U.S. digital asset market.