Coinbase CEO Backs Treasury Secretary’s Call to Pass the CLARITY Act

Highlights:

• Brian Armstrong backed Scott Bessent’s call to push the CLARITY Act forward in Congress.
• Bessent said clear crypto rules are needed to keep innovation and investment in the United States.
• Their public support shows growing alignment between Washington and the crypto industry on regulation.

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong joined the call to advance the CLARITY Act in Congress. In a post on X on Friday, Armstrong endorsed U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s stance, writing, “We agree. Thank you @SecScottBessent for saying it. It’s time to pass the Clarity Act.”

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We agree. Thank you @SecScottBessent for saying it. It's time to pass the Clarity Act.

Grateful for all the bipartisan work among Senators and staff over the past several months to make this a strong bill. https://t.co/jHoZ1bfLVZ pic.twitter.com/YBKebDkq8B

— Brian Armstrong (@brian_armstrong) April 10, 2026

Scott Bessent shared his view in a Wall Street Journal opinion piece covered by Reuters on 8 April. He said the United States still has no clear federal rules for digital assets. He also warned that this uncertainty has pushed more crypto activity to places like Abu Dhabi and Singapore, where the rules are clearer. Bessent said passing the CLARITY Act could help keep crypto companies, investment, and innovation in the United States. 

Scott is speaking from the Treasury side. Meanwhile, Armstrong is one of the most prominent crypto figures calling for clear digital asset rules. Their latest remarks show that backing for the bill is still strong, even after months of delay.

How the Bill Could Redraw U.S. Crypto Oversight

The CLARITY Act is designed to set a clear legal framework for cryptocurrencies and digital assets in the United States. One of its main goals is to define which assets fall under the oversight of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and which fall under the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Right now, many companies are unsure which rules apply to them.

The bill also aims to improve consumer protection, set standards for digital asset exchanges, and clarify how tokens should be classified.

Supporters say clearer rules would help companies build, hire, and serve U.S. customers with more confidence. The House passed its version of the bill in July last year, but the Senate has moved more slowly. One key issue is still stablecoins, especially the debate over interest and reward programs tied to dollar-backed tokens.

Armstrong Softens His Stance on the CLARITY Act

Earlier in January, Armstrong strongly opposed the Senate draft of the CLARITY Act. He said Coinbase could not support the bill in its current form and added that the industry would rather have no bill than a bad one. His latest push for passage suggests his stance has softened as lawmakers continue working on the final shape of U.S. crypto regulation.

The push did not end with Bessent and Armstrong. SEC Chairman Paul Atkins also backed the call the same day. In a post on X, Atkins said it was time for Congress to move market structure legislation forward and send it to President Trump. He also said Project Crypto is meant to ensure that once Congress acts, the SEC and CFTC are ready to put the CLARITY Act into action.

Project Crypto is designed so once Congress acts, @SECGov & @CFTC are ready to implement the CLARITY Act.@SecScottBessent is right. It's time for Congress to future-proof against rogue regulators & advance comprehensive market structure legislation to President Trump's desk. https://t.co/XVqW5aLo3Z

— Paul Atkins (@SECPaulSAtkins) April 9, 2026

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