Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse sharply criticized Senate Democrats on September 15, 2026, after the CLARITY Act failed to advance in a key procedural vote. The Senate vote ended 49-50, falling short of the 60 votes required to move the legislation forward.
The bill sought to establish a federal framework for digital assets and clarify responsibilities between the SEC and CFTC. Garlinghouse said the crypto industry had worked hard to get the bill passed, and its failure harmed American consumers and the country’s global competitiveness. “This one stings. Our team gave everything we had to get the Clarity Act across the finish line,” he stated.
Garlinghouse argued the initiative was bigger than Ripple or any single company, describing it as important for the entire crypto sector, consumers, and the US ambition to become the world’s crypto capital. He directly criticized Democrats, saying their anti-crypto politics got in the way of good policy.
Despite the defeat, Garlinghouse said Ripple remains engaged with regulators, pointing to SEC Chair Paul Atkins and CFTC Chair Michael Selig as officials who can continue developing rules while Congress remains stalled. He added that Ripple is experiencing one of its strongest periods in history thanks to genuine demand from traditional finance and the digital asset ecosystem, and that the failed vote does not alter the company’s global expansion or customer activity.
