Bitcoin staged a sharp rally on May 15, 2026, reaching above $81,000 after the United States Senate Banking Committee passed the CLARITY Act in a bipartisan 15–9 vote. The event injected a wave of regulatory optimism across cryptocurrency markets. XRP jumped 4.5%, Dogecoin added 3%, and Solana climbed 2% in the hours following the announcement, according to CoinDesk. Citi analysts later tied a long-term Bitcoin price target of $143,000 directly to full passage of the bill.
However, the relief proved short-lived. Selling pressure returned in the following days as rising bond yields pulled capital away from risk assets. By May 19, Bitcoin had fallen to $77,300, erasing the gains triggered by the legislative milestone. Ethereum fell over 3%, Solana dropped nearly 5%, and forced liquidations wiped out more than $360 million in long positions. The CLARITY Act still requires 60 votes on the full Senate floor, meaning its ultimate fate and market impact remain uncertain.
