27th August 2026
By Anjali Kochhar
Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse says the United States is closer than ever to establishing clear rules for the cryptocurrency industry, as regulators and lawmakers move toward key decisions on digital asset policy.
Garlinghouse made the remarks after a busy week in Washington that brought together crypto executives, traditional financial institutions and U.S. regulators. He said the recent discussions showed growing agreement that existing financial rules were not designed for the digital asset industry.
The Ripple chief executive highlighted the inaugural Innovation Advisory Committee meeting of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), which brought together representatives from both the crypto and traditional finance sectors. Participants included major financial market institutions such as Nasdaq, CME Group, Cboe, the New York Stock Exchange and the Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation.
Garlinghouse said the broad participation demonstrated that crypto is no longer a niche industry and that clearer rules are needed for consumers, companies and innovation. He also pointed to Ripple’s long-running campaign for regulatory clarity, noting that he had made a similar case to Congress in 2019.
The comments come as the CLARITY Act approaches a crucial stage in the Senate. The legislation is designed to establish a federal market structure for digital assets and clarify the roles of the Securities and Exchange Commission and CFTC. A Senate procedural vote is expected on September 15, making the date an important test for the bill’s future.
However, the legislation continues to face disagreements in Congress. Lawmakers remain divided over issues including consumer protections, market oversight, illicit finance safeguards and other provisions of the proposed framework.
At the same time, U.S. regulators are moving forward independently. The SEC recently proposed a new framework for crypto assets that would create exemptions for certain token offerings and introduce a potential safe harbor for some digital assets. The proposal includes an exemption for smaller offerings of up to $5 million and another covering offerings of up to $75 million under specified conditions.
The CFTC has also indicated that it can advance crypto-related rules using its existing authority, even if Congress fails to pass comprehensive legislation.
For Garlinghouse, the developments represent a major shift after years of regulatory uncertainty. While the final outcome remains dependent on Congress, the combination of new regulatory initiatives and growing political attention has created renewed optimism across the crypto industry.
The coming weeks could therefore prove critical for determining whether the United States finally moves toward a durable regulatory framework for digital assets or continues relying on agency-led reforms.
