Mayhem or Miracle? Ripple CEO Bets on CLARITY Act’s Last Stand

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Well, bless my stars and stripes, Congress has risen from its Easter slumber, and lo and behold, Ripple‘s head honcho, Brad Garlinghouse, is suddenly brimming with the kind of confidence that’d make a cat look at a king. Seems he’s got his eye on May as the month when the CLARITY Act-that elusive crypto bill stuck in legislative molasses-might finally see the light of day. Or, as I like to call it, the “Great Crypto Unsticking.”

In a recent jaw-flapping session, Garlinghouse pegged May as the make-or-break month, claiming the stablecoin yield squabble-which has been holding things up since January-is on the verge of a resolution. Imagine that, politicians actually compromising! It’s like seeing a pig fly, but with a briefcase.

Ripple CEO: The Great Compromise Whisperer

Garlinghouse spilled these beans at the Semafor World Economy Summit in Washington on April 13. According to the folks at 24/7 Wall St., he told the crowd that the stablecoin yield dispute is “nearing resolution.” He even quipped, “When folks are at their wit’s end, that’s when they finally shake hands and get it done.” Well, butter my biscuit, sounds like he’s been reading my playbook on human folly.

Though he didn’t pin a specific date on the calendar, Garlinghouse’s timeline matches his previous predictions. Back at the FII Priority Miami Summit on March 27, he shifted his bet from April to the end of May. Seems like he’s got a knack for moving goalposts-a skill any self-respecting politician would envy.

Meanwhile, White House crypto adviser Patrick Witt chimed in on April 13, saying negotiations have made “meaningful progress” behind the scenes. “All these issues seemed impossible once,” he said, “but now they’re narrowing down faster than a con man’s excuses.” Well, ain’t that a ray of sunshine.

CLARITY Act: 2027 or Bust?

Senator Thom Tillis is expected to drop a revised draft of the stablecoin yield agreement any day now. If both sides can stomach it, the Senate Banking Committee might finally schedule that markup they’ve been sitting on since January. But let’s not hold our breath-this is Congress we’re talking about.

Even if May is the target, the committee’s timing is about as reliable as a three-legged stool. Chairman Tim Scott hasn’t set a markup date yet, and while some lawmakers are still aiming for late April, the schedule could slip faster than a banana peel on a rainy day.

Senators Hagerty and Lummis are still clinging to the late April vote dream, but Senator Bernie Moreno dropped a bombshell: if the CLARITY Act doesn’t hit the Senate floor by May, it might get shelved until 2027. Seems midterm campaign shenanigans could push it off the calendar faster than a politician dodges a tough question.

XRP Price Chart

At the time of scribbling, Ripple’s cryptocurrency, XRP, was trading at $1.37, up 5% over the week. It’s recovering alongside the broader crypto market, which is about as surprising as a sunrise. Still, in the world of crypto, even a 5% jump is enough to make some folks think they’ve struck gold.

So, will May bring clarity or chaos? Only time will tell. But one thing’s for sure: in the circus of crypto and Congress, the only constant is the unpredictability. And as for Garlinghouse, well, he’s either a visionary or a man with a very flexible calendar. Place your bets, ladies and gentlemen.

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2026-04-14 23:12