Crypto Can Advance Without Clarity Act, Says Grayscale Research Chief

The cryptocurrency industry is expected to continue advancing even if Congress fails to pass the CLARITY Act in 2026, according to Grayscale Research head Zach Pandl.

Pandl argues that regulatory progress does not depend entirely on a single piece of legislation and that the industry has already developed far beyond the point where its future depends solely on congressional action.

The absence of a comprehensive federal market structure law in the US did not prevent the industry from expanding during the decade before the current push for congressional crypto legislation became a central issue.

Pandl believes that progress can continue through regulatory rulemaking, institutional custody, banking access, exchange-traded products and clearer policies surrounding activities such as staking.