The US Banking Committee released the CLARITY Act with eight specific cryptocurrencies listed by name. Here's why that matters beyond the headlines.
CLARITY Act Names 8 Cryptos—Why XRP, SOL, HBAR Made the List
The US Banking Committee just published the full text of the CLARITY Act, and buried in the language are eight cryptocurrency names: Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Solana, Litecoin, Hedera, Dogecoin, and Chainlink. It's rare to see lawmakers call out specific assets in proposed legislation, and the selection itself tells a story.
This isn't just a list of the top coins by market cap. It's a cross-section—payment-focused assets like XRP and Litecoin, smart contract platforms like Ethereum and Solana, enterprise infrastructure like Hedera, a meme coin in Dogecoin, and oracle infrastructure with Chainlink. The mix suggests they're thinking categorically, not just grabbing whatever's trending on CoinMarketCap.
What stood out to me is the shift from vague "digital asset" terminology to actual protocol names in legislative text. That formalization could mean regulatory pathways are being considered for these specific networks, or it could mean they're the ones under the most scrutiny. Either way, being named is different than being ignored.
The CLARITY Act's intent—based on its title—seems to be about defining boundaries. Whether it delivers actual clarity or just formalizes government attention remains to be seen. But when policymakers start writing coin tickers into bills, it's worth paying attention to which ones made the cut and why those particular eight were chosen over hundreds of others.
0 Comments