Ripple CTO David Schwartz has publicly endorsed the Clarity Act, arguing that the crypto industry should embrace an imperfect regulatory framework rather than waiting for a flawless one. Speaking at XRPLasVegas 2026, Schwartz stated, "I think the strategy is let's get as much as we can as soon as we can," emphasizing that delaying regulation for an ideal outcome could hinder industry growth.
The Clarity Act aims to assign oversight of spot crypto markets to the CFTC, define decentralized protocols, and establish clear liability rules for developers and stablecoin issuers. However, critics point to restrictions on stablecoin yield as a potential hindrance to DeFi innovation. Schwartz acknowledged these flaws but compared the Act's potential impact to the early internet era, calling it "the starting gun" for institutional capital deployment.
Schwartz also addressed Ripple's internal strategy debates, noting that one camp pushed for aggressive expansion while another urged caution. Ultimately, Ripple chose to move forward while avoiding irreversible risks. He shared Ripple's long-term vision: enterprise adoption now to pave the way for retail use later, similar to how the internet scaled through governments and corporations before reaching everyday users.
XRP is currently trading around $1.38, with spot ETF inflows reaching 2026 highs in April. Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse previously estimated an 80% chance of the bill passing, though the timeline has slipped past the April recess. Market observers watch for committee votes and amendments in May and June 2026 as key signals for XRP's next move.
