Ripple CEO Sees 2 Decisive Weeks for US Crypto Bill Nearing Vote

Ripple (XRP) CEO Brad Garlinghouse said the U.S. crypto industry is entering a critical two-week policy window that could determine the fate of federal legislation this year, with the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act hanging in the balance.

"The weeks of May 11, and May 18 could be decisive for advancing federal cryptocurrency legislation," Garlinghouse said at the Consensus Miami 2026 conference. His comments come as Bitcoin (BTC) trades above $80,000, reflecting a market keenly aware of the regulatory stakes.

The path forward for the crypto industry's main policy objective in Washington hinges on resolving a few major sticking points in the next week, according to U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a key negotiator on the bill. "There will be no one voting for this bill if we don't have an ethics provision," the New York Democrat said Wednesday, highlighting a contentious proposal to ban senior government officials from having personal financial interests in the crypto industry.

At stake is whether the U.S. can establish clear regulatory "rules of the road" for the nearly $3 trillion digital asset market or if the sector will continue to operate in a gray area. The outcome could either unlock a wave of institutional investment by providing legal certainty or perpetuate the volatility and risk highlighted by recent enforcement actions, such as the seizure of the alleged crypto scam BG Wealth Sharing, which authorities said defrauded investors with promises of outsized daily returns.

Ethics Provision a Key Hurdle

The most significant remaining obstacle is the ethics provision, which Democrats have insisted upon. "We cannot allow members of Congress, senior administration officials, presidents or vice presidents to get rich off of these industries because of their insider status," Gillibrand argued, framing it as a matter of preventing corruption.

This provision has been a point of friction, delaying a necessary Senate Banking Committee hearing. Gillibrand noted the negotiation needs to be resolved in the coming week to maintain a path for a floor vote. The legislative calendar is narrowing, with only about 10 weeks of Senate time remaining before the midterm elections.

Garlinghouse has long advocated for more clarity, stating that clear rules are better than the current state of chaos. A potential final vote on the Clarity Act could occur in the first week of August, which would be the last opportunity before Congress's summer break. The progress, or lack thereof, in the next two weeks will be a key indicator of whether that timeline is achievable.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.