XRP price has been lagging other cryptos in the past seven days. The XRP/BTC pair is down roughly 7% during this period, which shows the token’s sensitivity to negative Clarity Act news.
While Bitcoin has held above $65,000 and Ethereum has bounced, XRP has struggled to reclaim $1.10, trading near $1.03 at press time.
The underperformance is not accidental. The Senate’s failure to pass the Clarity Act before recess has hit XRP harder than most assets, given the token’s unique regulatory history and its dependence on clear rules for institutional adoption.
Vincent van Code: SEC Rulemaking, Not Clarity Act, Will Drive Crypto Forward
Vincent van Code, a software engineer and long-term XRP supporter, offered a nuanced take on the regulatory landscape. While many believe the Clarity Act will advance tokens like XRP, he disagrees.
He argued that the SEC will make rules to enable the crypto industry to move forward without prior ambiguity. Clear rules, he said, mean a “power chance of enforcement action, amongst other things.” But he questioned whether this would be enough for heavily regulated institutions like banks, which operate on 5- to 10-year timelines.
His answer: probably not. “We won’t get the announcements we are all hoping for. We won’t get the massive demand,” he wrote. But he sees mid-level corporations (SMEs) and investment and fund managers jumping in 100%.
While people believe Clarity Act will still advance tokens, in particular $XRP, I don't agree.
— Vincent Van Code (@vincent_vancode) August 9, 2026
SEC will make rules to enable the crypto industry to move forward without prior ambiguity. Clear rules means a power chance of enforcement action, amongst other things.
But is this… https://t.co/WI4U2ifwsW
Van Code’s bet is still on the Clarity Act passing in September this year. Even if it doesn’t, he said, it just means another six months or so. “I am patient,” he added.
His comments came in response to Grayscale’s Head of Research, Zach Pandl, who said crypto will move forward without the Clarity Act, supported by expected SEC rulemaking, though more new investment may move overseas.
Read also: Pro-Ripple Lawyer Warns: Blocking Clarity Act Won’t Stop Trump
My Take
Van Code makes a compelling distinction. The Clarity Act is a legislative solution, but SEC rulemaking is the immediate reality. Banks and conservative institutions need more than promises – they need codified law. That’s why Van Code doesn’t expect massive institutional demand even if the Act passes.
The real catalyst for XRP may not be the Clarity Act itself, but the clarity that comes from SEC rulemaking, combined with mid-level corporate adoption. That is a slower path, but it could be more sustainable.
The XRP/BTC drop is a warning sign. Traders are pricing in the possibility that the Clarity Act won’t deliver the immediate catalyst they had hoped for. Patience, as Van Code said, is the real edge.
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