Coinbase CEO Sees CLARITY Act Passage as Key to Unlocking Institutional Capital

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong expressed optimism about the potential passage of the CLARITY Act in an interview with CNBC's Squawk Box Asia. He stated that the bill, which seeks to establish a federal framework for digital assets and divide oversight between the SEC and CFTC, is close to receiving the 60 votes needed for passage.

Armstrong emphasized that the legislation is one of two possible paths to regulatory clarity in the US, with SEC and CFTC rulemaking serving as an alternative route if Congress fails to act. He noted that the bill's potential passage would unlock institutional capital and pave the way for products like tokenized equities in the US.

The CLARITY Act has been a key focus for Coinbase, which has expanded its trading business into stocks, commodities, and foreign exchange, while building out non-trading revenue through stablecoins and institutional custody. The company's second-quarter 2026 revenue was $1.2 billion, down from $1.5 billion in the same period last year.

Armstrong reiterated that Coinbase is committed to supporting the bill, which he described as a 'regulatory checkbox' that would provide clarity for digital assets in the US. He also highlighted the importance of resolving outstanding ethics provisions in order to secure passage.