Senate Banking Committee to Markup CLARITY Act on May 14, 2026, Aiming to Unlock $15B in Crypto ETF Inflows

TL;DR: The Senate Banking Committee will markup the CLARITY Act on May 14, 2026, with analysts projecting up to $15 billion in additional ETF inflows if the bill passes.

Context Digital assets currently operate under a patchwork of SEC, CFTC, and state rules, creating legal ambiguity that deters institutional money. The CLARITY Act seeks to replace this fragmentation with a single federal framework covering token classification, stablecoins, AML obligations, fundraising exemptions, DeFi, and tokenized securities. By clarifying which tokens are securities versus commodities, the bill aims to lower compliance costs for exchanges, fund managers, and custodians.

Key Facts The markup is scheduled for Thursday, May 14, 2026, within the Senate Banking Committee. Analysts estimate that enactment could generate about $15 billion in new ETF inflows, a figure based on projected demand for spot bitcoin and ether products. Under the proposal, crypto firms may raise as much as $50 million annually, with a lifetime ceiling of $200 million, without undergoing full SEC registration. This fundraising carve‑out is intended to let startups access capital while still meeting baseline investor‑protection standards.

What It Means If the committee advances the bill, spot bitcoin ETFs such as IBIT (iShares Bitcoin Trust) and FBTC (Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund) could see accelerated approval processes, potentially adding billions to assets under management. Bitcoin (BTC) traded at $28,400 on May 13, up 2.1% to a market cap of roughly $560 billion, while ether (ETH) stood at $1,850, up 1.4% with a market cap near $340 billion. Market participants will watch for the committee’s vote outcome, any subsequent House consideration, and how ETF issuers adjust product pipelines in response to clearer fundraising rules.