Clarity Act: Potential Legislative Progress at Consensus Miami 2026

At Consensus Miami 2026, lawmakers, policymakers and lawyers discussed crypto policy topics including ethics provisions and debates about whether prediction markets constitute gambling. White House adviser Patrick Witt said it is possible the Clarity Act becomes law by July 4, outlining a schedule that includes a markup this month, about four weeks for the Senate to merge the Banking and Agriculture bills, followed by weeks for reconciliation with the House and then a House vote and presidential signature.

At Consensus Miami 2026, multiple sessions were held where lawmakers, policymakers, and lawyers engaged in discussions focused on crypto policy, particularly examining the ethical aspects and regulatory challenges. The sessions addressed the contentious issue of whether prediction markets should be classified as gambling, highlighting the complexity of defining these digital markets within current regulatory frameworks.

While these debates were intense and featured well-argued positions from different stakeholders, they concluded without reaching a definitive resolution. Despite the lack of conclusion, participants regarded the debate as excellent, reflecting the diverse perspectives within the crypto policy arena. These discussions underscore ongoing challenges in balancing innovation with regulatory oversight.

CoinDesk commissioned a survey of 1,000 registered voters conducted April 21-27 regarding views on crypto ahead of the 2026 election. The survey found that voters did not want senior government officials to have ties to crypto business interests, and a majority did not feel comfortable with President Donald Trump’s administration overseeing crypto. The survey also reported that only 17% of voters were aware that Trump and his family co-founded World Liberty Financial.

Respondents favored banks over crypto projects as more likely to deliver financial services. The survey results were reported alongside coverage of Consensus Miami sessions where lawmakers, policymakers, and lawyers discussed ethics provisions and debated whether prediction markets constitute gambling. The findings present a snapshot of voter attitudes toward crypto regulation and governance in the run-up to the 2026 election.

Discussions at Consensus Miami 2026 reflected ongoing legislative activity around the Clarity Act, with a timeline presented that includes a markup, Senate steps to merge the Banking and Agriculture bills, reconciliation with the House, and a subsequent House vote and presidential signature.

Regulatory debates at the event remained open, centering on ethics provisions and whether prediction markets should be classified as gambling, and participants did not reach a definitive conclusion.