The main crypto news today is that we might be on the verge of a decisive week for the CLARITY Act. Senate Republicans released the updated bill text on Friday, coming straight out of a White House meeting with President Trump. This release happened exactly one year after the House passed its version of the bill, and now a floor vote is expected as soon as this week.
The math here is straightforward. Republicans need 60 votes to overcome a filibuster, which means they need to win over seven Democrats. They have roughly three working weeks before the August recess, so the pressure is on. Polymarket odds of passage this year nearly doubled to 45% following the bill text release, which shows how much this single development has shifted sentiment.
Mike Novogratz, the well-known crypto investor and Galaxy Digital CEO, weighed in on the situation. He called the CLARITY Act essential for America’s future and said negotiations are down to “word smithing” around an ethics clause. His point was that US citizens do not want politicians getting a financial edge over ordinary people, and both Republicans and Democrats understand this because they see the polling data.
Novogratz urged both sides to read the room. He said Republican senators need to push harder with the White House, while Democratic senators need to accept that they are not going to solve all government corruption issues in a single digital assets bill. His closing message was a challenge to Congress and prove that, like with housing legislation, they can still function for the long-term good of the American people.
The Clarity Act is essential for America’s future. We are down to “word smithing” around an ethics clause. US citizens don’t want politicians financially getting a better ‘edge’ than the common citizen has. Both Republicans and Democrats know this. They both see the polls.…
— Mike Novogratz (@novogratz) July 18, 2026
The drop in Polymarket odds from 74% in May to around 40% now tells a story of shifting expectations. The initial optimism came from broad bipartisan support and the sense that crypto regulation was finally getting serious attention. But as negotiations dragged on and disagreements over the ethics clause and other details emerged, the market adjusted its expectations. The delay itself created uncertainty, and the closer we get to the August recess without a clear deal, the more traders have priced in the possibility of failure.
Let me also briefly “touch” on some other interesting crypto news I found today:
Michael Saylor Opposes BIP 110, Says Bitcoin Needs “Guardians of Neutrality”
Strategy Executive Chairman Michael Saylor published an article titled “110 Reasons BIP 110 Is a Bad Idea,” where he laid out his opposition to a proposal that would restrict certain Bitcoin transaction types through consensus changes. The proposal has been controversial in Bitcoin development circles, with proponents arguing it would help address certain network concerns and opponents warning it sets a dangerous precedent.
Saylor’s argument is rooted in the idea that Bitcoin cannot determine transaction intent. He believes that disputed uses should be governed by market mechanisms and node policies rather than protocol-level restrictions. The core of his position is that imposing restrictions through consensus changes would undermine Bitcoin’s neutrality and open the door to further tinkering with the protocol based on political or social considerations.
Michael Saylor Opposes BIP 110, Says Bitcoin Needs “Guardians of Neutrality”
— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) July 18, 2026
Strategy Executive Chairman Michael Saylor published an article titled “110 Reasons BIP 110 Is a Bad Idea,” opposing the proposal to restrict certain Bitcoin transaction types through consensus changes.… pic.twitter.com/XKzslOlycD
His closing line (“Bitcoin does not need guardians of purity. It needs guardians of neutrality”) encapsulates his philosophy. Saylor sees Bitcoin as a neutral protocol that should not pick winners and losers based on how people use the network. In his view, the market can sort out questionable transactions through fees, node policies, and other economic mechanisms without requiring changes to Bitcoin’s underlying code.
The debate over BIP 110 reflects a broader tension in Bitcoin governance between those who want the protocol to remain unchanged and those who see value in adapting it to address emerging issues. Saylor’s position is firmly on the side of maximal neutrality, and his influence in the Bitcoin ecosystem means his opposition carries weight.
Robinhood CEO: Operate “Trump Accounts” and Why Trading Isn’t Necessarily Gambling
According to a New York Times interview, Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev revealed that the company is working with the US government to operate “Trump Accounts”; investment accounts specifically designed for children born between 2025 and 2028. The idea appears to be a forward-looking initiative to encourage early investing for the generation born during Trump’s current term, though details on how the program would work remain limited.
Tenev also addressed criticism that Robinhood encourages younger generations to gamble on stocks and crypto. His response was emphatic; trading in any form should not simply be defined as gambling. He argued that speculation is essential to financial markets because markets would not function without speculators making predictions about future prices. This is a classic economic argument that speculation provides liquidity and price discovery, even if it carries risks.
The Robinhood CEO acknowledged that his company is working to move beyond its “meme stock” image. He wants Robinhood to become a one-stop financial platform covering all asset classes and financial transactions globally. Robinhood want to be the go-to platform for everything from stocks and options to crypto and beyond.
Tenev also revealed that more than 90% of his personal net worth is invested in Robinhood shares. This is a significant statement because it aligns his personal financial interests directly with the company’s success. It is the kind of commitment that sends a message to both employees and investors that he believes in what he is building.
The Trump Accounts initiative, combined with Robinhood’s broader ambitions, indicates the company is positioning itself for long-term growth that extends well beyond its original user base. Whether these accounts actually launch and how they are structured remains to be seen, but the partnership with the government indicates serious intent.
Read also: Clarity Act Is the Missing Piece: Without It, Even XRP’s Victory Isn’t Enough
Overall, the CLARITY Act remains the main crypto news story for today, and the coming days will determine whether the crypto industry gets the regulatory clarity it has been waiting for. The vote count is tight, the timeline is short, and the political dynamics are complicated. But after years of uncertainty, decisive action might finally be just around the corner.
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