Brad Garlinghouse, CEO of Ripple Labs, has revised his forecast for the passage of the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act from April 30 to the end of May 2026.
Although the Clarity Act, a U.S. legislative proposal aimed at establishing clear regulatory boundaries for digital assets, continues to be delayed in the U.S. Senate as of March 27, Garlinghouse predicted its passage by May 31, 2026, while speaking at a panel during the FII Priority Miami Summit on Thursday. He highlighted that participants in the White House negotiations on the Clarity Act are exhausted by the ongoing talks and thus a deal is likely in the near term.
“Compromise is reached when they are most tired and frustrated …. By the end of May, we’ll get something,” he said.
The revised outlook marks a shift from Garlinghouse’s February 2026 position, when he placed the odds of the Clarity Act clearing the Senate by April 30 at 80%. He has attributed the extension to continuing bipartisan negotiations rather than any weakening of support for the bill.
Garlinghouse also pointed to backing from both the legislative and executive branches as a factor that could accelerate the bill’s progress, arguing at the FII panel that the combination of congressional interest and White House engagement makes passage achievable within 65 days.
Why is Ripple CEO anticipating the passage of the Clarity Act by the end of May?
Ripple CEO changed his expectations for the passage of the Clarity Act from April 30 to the end of May due to ongoing bipartisan delays. Senator Cynthia Lummis, a prominent Republican from Wyoming advocating for crypto-friendly legislation, confirmed this week that cross-party alignment remains a precondition for the bill’s advancement.
“Bipartisan compromise is necessary for the Clarity Act to pass. We’re working around the clock to ensure stablecoin rewards are protected and to prevent deposit flight from community banks,” Lummis noted.
Despite the delay, the broader political environment continues to favor near-term passage. President Donald Trump’s administration has expressed support for digital asset legislation, thereby pushing the odds of the Clarity Act passing at some point in 2026 to 60%, according to data from Polymarket, a decentralized prediction market platform.
