Y Combinator, the well-known startup accelerator, said crypto technology should not be viewed as a tool limited to crypto-native startups or fintech companies. According to YC, all of its portfolio companies could use crypto technology in the future, especially infrastructure such as stablecoins. The statement frames crypto infrastructure as something that can serve a broader range of startups rather than a narrow sector.
YC has been an early investor in companies including Airbnb, DoorDash, Coinbase, Stripe, Reddit, OpenAI and Kalshi. Against that portfolio background, its latest comments focus on the idea that clearer regulation could allow more types of companies to adopt crypto infrastructure, instead of leaving such tools mainly in the hands of crypto or financial technology startups.
YC focuses its call on the Clarity Act
The accelerator’s latest position is primarily a call for the U.S. Congress to pass the crypto market structure bill known as the Clarity Act. YC said that if the crypto industry is to move into a new stage, it must integrate more deeply with traditional financial institutions such as banks and brokerages. In YC’s view, the Clarity Act is expected to provide the regulatory foundation for that integration.
The bill would clarify whether digital assets are securities or commodities and would create a CFTC registration pathway. It would also state that customer assets belong to customers in the event of bankruptcy. For companies that want to use infrastructure such as stablecoins, these issues—asset classification, registration access and treatment of customer property—are directly tied to compliance and operational certainty.
Legislative path remains contested
The outlook for the Clarity Act remains uncertain. Supporters believe the bill has a basis for bipartisan cooperation. Opponents, however, point to limited Democratic support, the approach of the midterm elections, and ethical controversy arising from Donald Trump’s direct links to the crypto industry. Those factors are described as adding resistance to the legislative process.
YC’s statement therefore connects two issues: the use of crypto infrastructure across a wider startup ecosystem, and the regulatory framework that would allow that use to take place alongside banks, brokerages and other traditional financial institutions. The debate around the Clarity Act remains central to that connection.