Senator Bernie Moreno said the CLARITY Act could be completed by the end of May 2026, reviving attention around a crypto market structure bill that has been stalled in the Senate. After his remarks, the probability of the bill passing in 2026 on Polymarket moved from 38% to 46%. The move showed improving sentiment, but the Senate timetable remains uncertain because the markup process has not been firmly scheduled.
Moreno pushes an end-of-May target
The CLARITY Act is designed to define the structure of the crypto market, yet it has struggled to keep its earlier momentum in the Senate. The delay matters. Without a markup, the bill cannot advance to a full Senate vote, which puts pressure on every step that comes next.
Speaking at an event in Washington, DC, Moreno said, “I think we’re going to get it done by the end of May.” His comment came as doubts were growing over whether lawmakers could move quickly enough. The report also said a Republican on the Senate Banking Committee is still seeking to delay the CLARITY Act markup to May.
Senate delays keep the legislative window tight
Moreno has already warned that missing the May window could knock crypto legislation off course for a long period. If the bill does not move soon, it may be crowded out by a packed political calendar and the coming election cycle. The timing issue is becoming central.
He also pushed back on concerns from the banking sector over stablecoin yields. Moreno called those concerns “noise” and said they were “completely fake,” while urging banks to focus on innovation instead of slowing the process.
Treasury flags the risk of innovation moving abroad
The debate over delays has also widened into a competitiveness question. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that if the US keeps delaying crypto regulation, innovation could shift to markets such as Dubai and Singapore. The report added that Russia is legalizing BTC for cross-border trade, raising the possibility that the US could lose ground.
That puts the CLARITY Act in a larger frame. It is not only a Senate scheduling issue; it is also tied to where crypto businesses and related development may choose to concentrate.
Prediction market improves, but the outcome is still open
On Polymarket, the odds of the CLARITY Act passing in 2026 rose from 38% to 46% after Moreno said he expects the bill to be done by the end of May. The increase points to cautious optimism rather than certainty.
The next few weeks are likely to decide whether that optimism holds. If the Senate moves quickly and schedules the markup, the bill still has a path to May. If the delay continues, pressure around the timeline will keep building.