Key Takeaways

• Senate Banking Committee approved the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act (CLARITY) in a 15-9 vote with minimal cross-party backing
• Just two Democratic senators supported the measure; significantly more backing needed to defeat a filibuster
• President Trump’s personal cryptocurrency investments create the primary obstacle to broader support
• TD Cowen analysts increased passage probability to 40% from approximately 33%
• White House aims for a July 4 signing ceremony if legislation succeeds

On Thursday, the US Senate Banking Committee approved the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act in a 15-9 decision, pushing forward legislation designed to establish comprehensive federal oversight of cryptocurrency markets.

Democratic Senators Ruben Gallego and Angela Alsobrooks crossed party lines to support the measure alongside 13 Republican colleagues. The legislation now progresses toward consideration by the entire Senate, though scheduling for a floor vote remains undetermined.

The Senate Agriculture Committee previously greenlit its section of the legislation back in January. These separate components must be combined into unified legislation before senators can vote on final passage.

The House of Representatives already approved its companion version 294-134, including 78 Democratic votes in support.

The 60-Vote Challenge

Final Senate passage requires 60 affirmative votes to bypass a procedural filibuster. Republicans must therefore secure considerably more Democratic backing than the pair of votes received during committee proceedings.

Benchmark analyst Mark Palmer noted the legislation will “demand substantially more Democratic support than that of the two senators who voted for it yesterday.”

TD Cowen analyst Jaret Seiberg upgraded his probability forecast for passage to 40% from one-third, while acknowledging significant challenges remain.

Joshua Riezman, Chief Legal and Strategy Officer at GSR, stated prior to the committee vote that chances of presidential signature during this congressional session stood under 50%.

Coinbase’s Chief Legal Officer Paul Grewal projected greater optimism, predicting summer passage for the framework.

Trump’s Crypto Holdings Block Democratic Support

Numerous Senate Democrats indicate they won’t back the legislation without language addressing potential conflicts of interest. Their apprehension focuses on President Trump’s cryptocurrency holdings, including his memecoin project and his family’s World Liberty Financial venture.

Senator Raphael Warnock declared he couldn’t support legislation failing to address what he characterized as “pure corruption” regarding the administration’s digital asset involvement.

Senator Thom Tillis, who backed the committee version, acknowledged “more work remains in the weeks ahead.”

Senator Gallego stated plainly that without resolution of the ethics questions, he’ll oppose the bill during floor proceedings.

Banking Committee chair Tim Scott joined 12 Republican colleagues in rejecting an amendment addressing Trump’s possible conflicts of interest.

TD Cowen suggested Republicans want to avoid such votes with the 2026 midterm elections approaching.

Timeline and Next Steps

The Senate remains in session through May 22, reconvening June 1 and continuing through June 26. No floor vote on CLARITY has been calendared.

White House crypto adviser Patrick Witt indicated the administration hopes for a July 4 bill signing.

In separate action, the House Ways and Means Committee conducted a private Thursday session examining digital asset taxation policy, following December 2025 introduction of the Digital Asset PARITY Act.

The CLARITY Act cleared the Senate Banking Committee 15 to 9 on May 14, but analysts say significant obstacles remain before it can become law.

The CLARITY Act cleared the Senate Banking Committee in a 15 to 9 bipartisan vote on May 14, its most consequential legislative step since the House passed a similar version by 294 to 134 in July 2025. The vote was secured at the last moment after Chairman Tim Scott used a procedural maneuver to admit further amendments, bringing two Democrats across the aisle alongside all 13 Republicans.

All 13 Republicans voted yes. Democratic Senators Ruben Gallego of Arizona and Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland joined them, though both qualified their support. “My vote today is a vote to keep working in good faith,” Alsobrooks said. “We still have so much work to do.” Gallego warned he was “not afraid to vote no” on the Senate floor if an ethics deal is not reached.

Analysts warn the real fight starts now

GSR Chief Legal and Strategy Officer Joshua Riezman said before the vote that the odds of the CLARITY Act reaching the president’s desk this session were below 50%. TD Cowen was sharper in its assessment.

“We are not more optimistic because we continue to believe Democrats will demand a vote on an amendment that would apply conflict of interest standards to President Trump,” the firm said. “We believe Republicans do not want to take that vote as they do not want to be portrayed in upcoming elections as endorsing the involvement of the Trump family in crypto endeavors.”

The ethics provision is the central obstacle. The CLARITY Act’s current text contains no conflict of interest language restricting government officials from profiting from crypto, as that falls outside the Senate Banking Committee’s jurisdiction. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has said the bill will not pass the full Senate without it. The White House has rejected any language that singles out a specific officeholder.

The full Senate requires 60 votes to overcome a filibuster, meaning Republicans need at least seven Democrats. The Senate Banking Committee revised its 309-page draft text on May 12, resolving the stablecoin yield dispute by banning passive interest while permitting activity-based rewards. That cleared one major obstacle but left the ethics fight and law enforcement provisions unresolved.

Senator Cynthia Lummis has warned that missing the window before the August recess could push comprehensive crypto legislation off the calendar until 2030. The bill must also be reconciled with the House version before going to Trump, adding further steps to an already tight timeline. As crypto.news tracked, the CLARITY Act has been stalled multiple times since January over the same fault lines now heading to the Senate floor.

Quick Summary

• OpenAI introduced banking integration features within ChatGPT for U.S. Pro plan members this past Friday
• Through Plaid integration, members can sync banking and brokerage accounts from more than 12,000 financial providers
• The AI assistant accesses account balances, transaction history, investment portfolios, and outstanding debts — without the ability to transfer funds or access complete account digits
• Future integration with Intuit will enable tax consequence calculations for equity transactions
• This premium capability requires a $200 monthly subscription and will gradually become available to broader user groups

OpenAI Enables ChatGPT to Access Financial Data and Deliver Custom Money Guidance

This past Friday, OpenAI unveiled banking connectivity features for ChatGPT. Subscribers to the Pro tier in the United States can now integrate their banking and brokerage platforms directly with the AI assistant.

The functionality relies on Plaid, a financial aggregation service that interfaces with over 12,000 banking institutions. Compatible services encompass Chase, Fidelity, Schwab, Robinhood, American Express, and Capital One.

After establishing connections, ChatGPT generates a comprehensive overview displaying investment returns, expenditure trends, recurring charges, and scheduled bill payments.

According to OpenAI, over 200 million individuals already consult ChatGPT monthly regarding financial matters. This banking integration transforms generic inquiries into customized responses derived from actual financial information.

Setup Process Explained

Users begin by selecting “Get started” within the Finances module located in ChatGPT’s navigation panel. Alternatively, they can enter “@Finances, connect my accounts” directly into the conversation interface.

Plaid then guides users through its security verification steps. The linking process between ChatGPT and financial institutions occurs exclusively through Plaid’s infrastructure.

Once activated, users can pose queries such as their previous month’s grocery expenditures, identify overlooked subscription services, or calculate timeframes for eliminating credit card balances.

The AI can additionally assist in determining monthly savings requirements to accomplish specific financial objectives.

Capabilities and Limitations

ChatGPT lacks authorization to execute transactions on connected accounts. Complete account numbers remain hidden from view. The system exclusively reads current balances, transaction records, portfolio assets, and obligations including mortgages or credit card balances.

Users maintain complete control to sever account connections whenever desired. Following disconnection, OpenAI commits to purging synchronized information within a 30-day window.

Individual “financial memories” — saved objectives or monetary commitments the AI has recorded — can be reviewed and removed by users.

A privacy setting allows users to determine whether their financial dialogues contribute to OpenAI’s model development. The organization hasn’t elaborated on potential uses of aggregated financial information or security measures following potential data compromises.

OpenAI indicated its GPT-5.5 architecture processes financial inquiries with enhanced analytical capabilities. The development involved collaboration with financial experts to establish quality standards for personal finance responses.

Future Intuit integration will enable ChatGPT to project tax consequences from equity sales.

The banking features currently function on ChatGPT’s browser platform and iOS application. Access remains restricted to Pro tier subscribers paying $200 monthly.

OpenAI intends to gather user feedback from Pro members before extending availability to Plus subscribers, ultimately targeting universal access across all user tiers.

Toncoin price continued consolidating near a critical support region this week after a sharp post-breakout correction, while technical indicators suggested a potential longer-term trend reversal could still be developing.

According to data from crypto.news, Toncoin (TON) price traded around $2.01 at press time on May 15 after briefly falling below the key psychological $2 support level earlier in the session. Despite the recent pullback, the token remains significantly above its April lows near the $1.20 region.

Toncoin’s earlier rally was fueled by renewed optimism surrounding the TON ecosystem and improving sentiment across Telegram-linked crypto applications. Traders also continued monitoring speculation surrounding deeper blockchain integrations within Telegram’s broader ecosystem, which helped drive strong buying momentum earlier this month.

However, the latest correction suggests that short-term bullish momentum has cooled after TON surged nearly 100% in just a few sessions. The token faced heavy resistance near the $2.80–$2.90 region, triggering profit-taking activity and a gradual decline over the past several days.

At the same time, participation across the TON ecosystem remains below peak levels seen during last year’s rally cycle. Decentralized finance activity and transaction growth have stabilized but have yet to fully recover, while several TON-linked gaming and tap-to-earn projects continue trading far below their previous highs.

Toncoin price analysis

On the daily chart, Toncoin appears to be consolidating inside a downward-sloping channel following its explosive breakout rally earlier this month. The structure resembles a potential bullish flag pattern, which typically forms after a strong impulsive move higher and often signals temporary consolidation before trend continuation.

TON continues defending the important $2 support zone, which also aligns closely with the daily Supertrend support visible on the chart. Holding above this level could help preserve the broader bullish structure despite the ongoing cooldown phase.

One of the more important technical developments is the approaching golden cross formation between the 50-day and 200-day moving averages. A golden cross occurs when the shorter-term moving average crosses above the longer-term moving average and is generally viewed as a bullish long-term trend reversal signal.

The 50-day moving average has now started curving sharply higher toward the 200-day moving average following TON’s recent breakout rally, suggesting bullish momentum may gradually be strengthening despite the current consolidation.

Momentum indicators, however, continue showing mixed signals in the short term. The MACD histogram has weakened noticeably over the past several sessions, while the MACD lines are attempting to stabilize after approaching a bearish crossover earlier this week.

If bulls successfully reclaim the upper boundary of the descending channel near the $2.25–$2.30 region, Toncoin could attempt another move toward the recent swing high near $2.90. A confirmed breakout above that resistance zone may then open the door toward the psychological $3 level.

On the downside, failure to hold above the key $2 support region could weaken the bullish continuation structure and potentially expose TON to a deeper retracement toward the $1.80 area, where buyers previously stepped in during the initial breakout phase.

Bitcoin’s continued attempt to push beyond the $84,000 level hit resistance this week, with bears stepping in at higher prices and driving BTC back toward the $79,000 area. In the market’s on-chain discourse, Glassnode’s Week On-chain report highlighted a specific dynamic: a group of investors who bought BTC between November 2025 and February near $86,900 could face draws to break-even, which may cap upside as some of these holders decide to realize profits. CryptoQuant, meanwhile, pointed to a major technical hurdle—the 200-day moving average around $82,400—matching a recurring pattern from past cycles where BTC has stuttered after failing to clear this benchmark. Against that backdrop, bulls have managed to defend the nearby breakout level around $76,000, suggesting that, for now, momentum is not exhausted even as the path higher remains contested.

Against this complicated backdrop, traders are watching a few critical inflection points. If BTC can defend and then reclaim the zone above the 20-day exponential moving average near $79,251, the bulls may press toward the $84,000 mark again, with a potential breakout that could clear the way toward $92,000. Conversely, a sustained push below the 20-day EMA could rekindle selling pressure, exposing a possible slide toward the next major magnet around the 50-day simple moving average near $74,968, which previously has provoked renewed bidding from bulls.

Key takeaways

• BTC has failed to sustain a breakout above $84,000, yet bulls have not allowed a deep retrace below $76,000, signaling a precarious but not capitulated bullish stance.
• On-chain dynamics suggest a pressure point around $86,900 for long-term holders who entered during late 2025 to early 2026; a wave of profit-taking near those entry prices could cap upside near recent highs.
• The 200-day moving average around $82,400 is acting as a technical gate, echoing past bear-market resistance that has postponed larger rallies.
• A move above $84,000 would open the door to a potential rally toward $92,000, while a break below the 20-day EMA could shift focus back to the mid-$70k area.
• Across major altcoins, the momentum remains mixed, with several assets stalling at overhead resistance and others showing fragile bullish triggers around short-term moving averages.

Bitcoin price dynamics: a fragile setup with a hopeful horizon

Bitcoin’s latest price action centers on a battle between continuation signals and overhead resistance. After a brief relief rally that paused around the $82,000 zone, selling pressure resurfaced as buyers attempted to push BTC higher. The short-term technical picture remains characterized by a tug-of-war around the 20-day EMA, currently near $79,251. A decisive move back above this level could set the stage for another test of the $84,000 hurdle, with a sustained close above that threshold bringing a tested path toward $92,000 into view.

Analysts are also weighing on the longer horizon. Glassnode’s analysis underscores a potential distribution pressure from a cohort of investors who bought BTC when prices were closer to the upper tolerance of the range observed in late 2025 and early 2026. If these holders decide to exit near their entry price after large drawdowns, it could reinforce any resistance encountered near the $86,900 area. At the same time, the 200-day moving average around $82,400 remains a stubborn obstacle; a clean break above it has historically required sustained demand beyond short-term highs.

In a bear-leaning phase, prices often confront walls at major resistances before any revival. The current setup, where the price has not breached the $76,000 breakout level decisively, keeps the door open for another leg higher—but only if demand persists and buyers can press through the next set of defenses.

Ether and the broader altcoin mosaic: a mix of strength and caution

Ether’s recent price action has been less forgiving than Bitcoin’s, with a notable tilt in favor of sellers as the market adjudicates near-term value. ETH turned down from the 20-day EMA near $2,297 and subsequently slipped below the 50-day SMA around $2,250, signaling that the near-term supply glut or capitulation risk may be weighing on the market. The immediate chart suggests a potential pullback to the support line of the established ascending channel—an area that bulls will need to defend to avoid a more pronounced slide to the next trigger level, around $1,916.

On the upside, a rebound off the channel support that also clears the 20-day EMA could rekindle optimism and move ETH toward the $2,465 area, which has historically posed as a strong resistance. If buyers can consolidate past that level, the trajectory may extend toward the channel’s upper boundary, often viewed as a sanity check for momentum shifts.

This relative weakness in ETH sits within a broader narrative about the top-tier assets where several coins flirt with, but struggle to sustain, breakouts above their own moving averages. The pullback in Ether underscores a general caution among traders that even well-capitalized ecosystems face headwinds when macro and on-chain signals do not align in favor of a sustained rally.

Altcoin snapshots: a landscape of resistances, supports, and potential breakouts

Among the large-cap altcoins, several assets display a pattern of resistance near overhead levels, with limited follow-through. Here are the key takeaways from a cross-section of the top names:

BNB bulls, in particular, have shown resilience around the $687 mark, a level that has proven pivotal in recent sessions. The pair remains supported by an upsloping 20-day EMA near $649, and a relatively elevated RSI hints at upside momentum. A decisive move past $687 could unlock a climb toward $730 and potentially toward $790, provided buyers can sustain the pace. A break below the 20-day EMA would raise the risk of a protracted consolidation within a $687–$570 range.

XRP is caught in a tug-of-war around a downtrend line that forms part of a descending-channel pattern. After a short-lived break above the 20-day EMA and a tentative rise from that level, bulls failed to seal a close above the downtrend line, inviting renewed pressure from bears. If selling intensifies and closes slip below the moving averages, XRP could slip toward $1.27. Conversely, a strong reclaim of the downtrend line and a breakout above the $1.61 resistance could open the door to a fresh upmove toward $2.

Solana has seen buyers defend the initial bounce from the 20-day EMA around $89 but faced renewed selling at higher levels, resulting in a break below the EMA. The short-term outlook suggests range-bound action, potentially oscillating between roughly $76 and $98 for the next few days. A sustained close above the 20-day EMA would be the first sign of renewed strength, targeting the $98 level and, if momentum carries, a run toward $106 and possibly higher.

Dogecoin’s path remains tethered to the 20-day EMA around $0.11 and the immediate resistance near $0.12. A break lower could indicate profit-taking and a continuation of a broader range between $0.09 and $0.12. A robust bounce off the EMA, however, would improve the odds of a breakout above the current zone, with a potential move toward $0.14 and ultimately $0.16 if bullish momentum accelerates.

Hyperliquid has shown notable recovery from a dip toward $38, signaling robust demand at lower levels. The bulls pressed the price above the $45.77 resistance, but the long upper wick of the day’s candle hints at selling pressure at higher prices. A move below the 20-day EMA near $41.96 would weaken the immediate bullish stance and likely push the pair into a $38–$47 range. Conversely, a sustained push above $47 could re-accelerate the uptrend toward the $50–$51.43 zone.

Cardano has likewise tested the 20-day EMA around $0.26 but could not sustain gains beyond that level. The immediate landscape suggests a possible widening of the range between roughly $0.22 and $0.31 as sellers attempt to deepen their grip. A breakout above $0.29 would shift the balance in favor of buyers with a potential move toward $0.31, though that level could attract renewed selling pressure.

Zcash’s price action has seen a bounce off the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement around $518 but failed to clear the $560 hurdle. Bears are pressing to push the price below the 20-day EMA near $491, with a close below that level potentially opening a path to the 61.8% retracement near $442. A decisive rebound off the 20-day EMA could reignite a rally toward $560 and, if established, toward $643.

Bitcoin Cash has been trading inside a relatively tight range, about $419 to $486, suggesting a balance of buying near support and selling near resistance. The momentum indicators have begun to tilt negative, increasing the risk that sellers take control if the price breaks below $419, potentially sending BCH toward $375. If buyers defend $419 and push back above the moving averages, the pair could maintain a narrower range for a spell longer.

What to watch next: signals, timing, and the broader context

Across the board, the near-term narrative is one of a market trying to transition from a phase of high volatility to more deliberate, evidence-driven moves. The level to watch for Bitcoin—$84,000—remains a focal point; a clean breakout above that threshold would be a clear sign that bulls are reasserting control, especially if accompanied by sustained buying above the 200-day average at roughly $82,400. If resistance holds, a reversion toward the mid-$70k zone would be a plausible scenario in the absence of fresh catalysts.

For Ether and the broader altcoin space, the key will be how price interacts with short- and mid-term moving averages—the 20-day EMA and 50-day SMA—alongside established chart patterns, such as ascending channels or descending channels that define potential support and resistance rails. Breakouts above critical levels could unlock renewed upside, while failures to clear resistance or breaches of support could extend consolidation for days or weeks.

Investors and traders should also consider on-chain dynamics and macro considerations, which can amplify or mute price moves. The tension between supply held by longer-term holders and fresh demand from new entrants will continue to shape price trajectories. In particular, the behavior of those who bought toward the upper portions of late 2025–early 2026 cycles will be a telling gauge of whether fresh demand can overcome potential profit-taking pressures.

The coming sessions will be telling for whether the market can sustain a broader move higher or whether risk-off sentiment returns to the fore. As always, liquidity conditions, macro risk events, and sector-specific developments will determine how quickly price action unfolds across Bitcoin, Ether, and the array of altcoins forming the current market mosaic.

Readers should stay attentive to how price interacts with moving averages and chart patterns, and keep an eye on on-chain signals that can provide insight into whether the current pullbacks are consolidations or preludes to more meaningful corrections. The next few weeks will be a telling test of whether bulls can press beyond recent resistance, or whether bears can reassert control with a renewed push to lower support levels.

Key Takeaways

• On-chain sleuth ZachXBT identified a breach exceeding $10 million on THORChain, spanning Bitcoin, Ethereum, BSC, and Base networks
• The protocol activated emergency shutdown procedures, suspending all swap and trading operations to safeguard liquidity providers
• Identified attacker addresses contain 36.85 BTC, 3,443 ETH, and 96.6 BNB plus additional digital assets
• RUNE experienced a sharp 15% decline, sliding from $0.58 to approximately $0.50 following the breach disclosure
• RUNE derivatives open interest surged 19% within a four-hour window, indicating heightened speculative trading amid the selloff

On May 15, 2026, THORChain—a decentralized protocol facilitating cross-chain liquidity—fell victim to a security breach resulting in losses exceeding $10 million. The incident was first brought to light by renowned blockchain investigator ZachXBT, who documented suspicious fund movements across multiple blockchain networks.

The compromise affected four major networks: Bitcoin, Ethereum, BNB Smart Chain, and Base. The malicious actor extracted assets by exploiting THORChain’s router smart contracts deployed on each respective blockchain.

Blockchain analytics service Arkham Intelligence tracked down the addresses controlled by the attacker. Their analysis revealed holdings of 36.85 BTC, 3,443 ETH, and 96.6 BNB, in addition to various stablecoins including USDT, USDC, and wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC).

ZachXBT’s preliminary assessment placed the damage at over $7.4 million. Following additional blockchain forensics and transaction tracing, he revised the total upward to a minimum of $10 million.

Emergency Shutdown Procedures Activated

Following detection of the security incident, THORChain’s team initiated the protocol’s integrated emergency shutdown system. This HaltTrading function immediately suspended all trading and token swap functionality across every connected blockchain.

Despite the trading freeze, the underlying THORChain blockchain continues to operate, and native RUNE token transfers remain functional. This shutdown protocol exists specifically to prevent cascading losses while the network’s node operators investigate the breach.

Multiple blockchain security monitoring services, including PeckShieldAlert, quickly identified and flagged the suspicious wallet addresses following the public disclosure. THORChain’s validator nodes automatically entered protection mode as programmed in the protocol’s defensive architecture.

ZachXBT also criticized an unverified third-party source that republished the breach information without conducting independent verification. He noted they failed to confirm the actual loss amounts or validate which blockchains were compromised.

Token Value Experiences Sharp Decline

Within minutes of ZachXBT’s public disclosure gaining traction, RUNE witnessed a precipitous 15% decline. The digital asset tumbled from above $0.58 to approximately $0.50 before finding temporary support.

As of this report, RUNE was changing hands around $0.52. The token’s 24-hour trading range extended from $0.502 to $0.597.

Spot market activity intensified dramatically, with trading volume increasing nearly 140% over 24 hours as holders liquidated positions. Interestingly, futures markets displayed contradictory behavior.

According to CoinGlass metrics, aggregate THORChain futures open interest expanded by over 6% to reach $24.80 million in just 60 minutes. RUNE futures contracts saw open interest balloon by 19% across four hours, with major exchanges Binance and Bybit reporting increases of approximately 17% and 19% respectively.

RUNE’s total market capitalization hovered near $204.88 million prior to exchanges fully reflecting the price correction. The asset has declined more than 70% from its peak over the trailing twelve months.

This incident marks the second time in 2026 that THORChain has been associated with major security events. In April, approximately $175 million in ETH from the massive $290 million Kelp DAO exploit was laundered through THORChain as attackers dispersed funds across numerous wallet addresses.

That previous incident highlighted ongoing challenges with recovering stolen cryptocurrency, particularly when illicit funds traverse multiple blockchain ecosystems, making forensic tracking significantly more complex.

Bitcoin ETFs logged $1 billion in net outflows in the week ending May 15, ending a six week inflow streak.

US spot Bitcoin ETFs posted $1 billion in net outflows for the week ending May 15, according to data tracked by SoSoValue. The exit is their largest weekly redemption since late January and came as Bitcoin traded near $79,000 amid surging Treasury yields and hotter than expected inflation data.

The outflow week ended the longest inflow streak the products had seen since July 2025. Crypto.news reported that the six week run had drawn $3.4 billion at an average of $568 million per week, giving the spring recovery much of its institutional credibility. April alone delivered $1.97 billion, the strongest monthly inflow total of 2026.

Macro headwinds end months of institutional buying

On May 15, the final trading day of the week, all 11 Bitcoin ETFs posted outflows. The complex shed $290.42 million that session alone with not a single product recording a positive flow, according to SoSoValue.

Ethereum ETFs added $255.11 million in outflows for the same week, extending their own negative streak and reinforcing broader sector caution. Cumulative net inflows across US spot Bitcoin ETFs since their January 2024 launch still stand at approximately $58.34 billion, with total assets under management at $104.29 billion.

A Nickel Digital survey found that 86% of institutional allocators and wealth managers still expect crypto ETF inflows to increase through 2026 as regulatory clarity improves, suggesting the outflow week may reflect short-term positioning rather than a structural shift in demand.

The macro backdrop drove the reversal. April CPI came in at 3.8% while PPI matched 2022 levels at 6%. The 10-year Treasury yield hit 4.54%, its highest since May 2025, and CME FedWatch moved above 44% probability of a Fed rate hike by December.

The pattern echoes earlier outflow periods this year. Crypto.news reported that the week ending February 27 saw a similar macro-driven reversal before inflows resumed the following week. In January, IBIT dominated the category with $1.035 billion of a $1.42 billion weekly total, a concentration that makes its outflow leadership in down weeks equally significant.

Poly Truth and Meme Punch gain attention as crypto investors hunt early-stage opportunities in 2026.

The best crypto to buy now conversation changed after the Clarity Act cleared the Senate Banking Committee in a 15-9 vote.

Bitcoin traded near $80,837, Ethereum held around $2,266, and the total crypto market cap sat near $2.77 trillion with Bitcoin dominance around 58.5%.

The bill is not final law yet, but the committee vote gave crypto investors a clearer signal that U.S. market structure rules are moving forward.

This guide ranks five crypto picks to watch in 2026, from presale coins like Poly Truth and Meme Punch to larger assets that could benefit from clearer regulation.

What the Clarity Act means for crypto investors

The Clarity Act is designed to reduce one of crypto’s biggest problems in the U.S. market. For years, exchanges, token issuers, and investors have had to deal with unclear rules around when a digital asset is treated as a security or a commodity.

The Senate Banking Committee vote matters because it moves the bill one step closer to a full Senate debate. MarketWatch reported that Coinbase shares rose after the committee advanced the bill, which shows how strongly public crypto firms react to clearer regulation.

Clearer rules can help larger crypto assets, regulated exchanges, and serious projects with visible token models. It can also make speculative tokens look weaker if they do not have a clear purpose.

Why market structure rules could help crypto in 2026

Regulation does not remove volatility, but it can change how capital enters the market. Large investors usually want clearer rules before adding more exposure to crypto assets.

That is why Bitcoin and Ethereum often benefit first when regulatory sentiment improves. They already have deep liquidity, strong name recognition, and wide institutional access.

Smaller projects can also gain from a better market mood, but they need a stronger reason to stand out. Tokens tied to data, prediction markets, gaming, and real user activity may have an easier story than coins built only on hype.

Best crypto to buy now after the Clarity Act vote

The strongest portfolio setup in 2026 is not only about picking one coin. A better approach is mixing large-cap liquidity with smaller projects that target clear market themes.

1. Poly Truth (PTRUE)

Poly Truth gives this list a data-led presale angle at a time when markets are becoming more sensitive to regulation, geopolitics, and prediction-based trading.

The project is building a prediction market intelligence system around PTRUE, where users can follow events across crypto, sports, politics, and other markets with AI-powered analysis.

The platform’s three-part system makes the idea easy to follow.

• The Runners collect data from active prediction events across the internet.
• The Starlet compares sources, finds patterns, and calculates probability scores.
• The Presenter turns the analysis into reports showing which outcome has stronger data support.

PTRUE has a total supply of 11.5 billion tokens.

• Presale: 40%
• Liquidity pool: 17%
• Development: 13%
• Team: 10%
• Staking rewards: 10%
• Marketing: 8%
• Community and airdrops: 2%

Poly Truth also lists 4,452% staking rewards, an Ethereum token address, and audits from Coinsult and SolidProof. Its roadmap includes data source integrations, alpha access, dashboard and Telegram bot launch, public tool launch, governance, new markets, and exchange listings.

2. Meme Punch (MEPU)

Meme Punch brings the gaming side of the portfolio into focus. The project turns memecoin culture into a medieval play-to-earn arena where players choose meme-inspired knights, fight rivals, climb the leaderboard, and earn MEPU rewards.

The game has a simple loop built for retail attention.

• Players choose meme fighters like Pepe, Doge, Floki, Brett, and Pudgy Penguin.
• Arena battles decide leaderboard progress.
• Winners earn $MEPU rewards.
• $MEPU can be used for weapons, skins, and special powers.
• Staking adds another token use inside the project.

MEPU has a total supply of 10 billion tokens.

• Presale: 40%
• DEX/CEX liquidity: 12%
• Marketing: 16.5%
• Game rewards: 9.5%
• Staking: 14.5%
• Project funds: 7.5%

Meme Punch fits the part of the market that still likes meme coins but wants more than passive holding. Its P2E arena gives MEPU a clearer use case than a token that depends only on social media attention.

3. Bitcoin (BTC)

Bitcoin remains the main asset in any serious crypto portfolio. It recently traded near $80,837, with an intraday high around $81,974 and a low near $79,213.

The Clarity Act vote supports Bitcoin indirectly because clearer rules can improve confidence across the whole asset class. BTC already has ETF exposure, deep liquidity, and the strongest institutional recognition in crypto.

Bitcoin may not offer the same early-stage upside as smaller tokens, but it gives the portfolio a foundation. When regulatory news improves sentiment, BTC usually becomes the first asset traders watch.

4. Ethereum (ETH)

Ethereum is still the main smart contract network behind DeFi, token launches, staking, NFTs, stablecoins, and many Ethereum-based presales. ETH recently traded near $2,266, with an intraday range between $2,241 and $2,316.

Clearer U.S. crypto rules can help Ethereum because the network sits close to many regulated market questions. Tokenization, stablecoin activity, DeFi apps, and on-chain financial products all need clearer treatment if larger institutions are going to build at scale.

ETH gives portfolio exposure to crypto infrastructure rather than one application. It is not as early as $PTRUE or $MEPU, but it remains one of the main assets that could benefit from a more defined legal framework.

5. Chainlink (LINK)

Chainlink fits the Clarity Act story because clearer rules could support more real-world assets, DeFi, and institutional blockchain activity. LINK recently traded near $10.37, with an intraday high around $10.75.

Chainlink’s main job is data. Its oracle network helps smart contracts connect with outside information, including prices, reserves, cross-chain messages, and market data.

That makes LINK useful in a more regulated crypto market. If more assets move on-chain, smart contracts need trusted data feeds, and Chainlink is already one of the best-known projects in that category.

How to build a 2026 crypto watchlist

A stronger watchlist should not treat every crypto the same way. Each asset should have a clear role, especially if regulation becomes a larger market driver.

A simple structure could look like this.

• Core market exposure: Bitcoin and Ethereum.
• Data infrastructure: Chainlink.
• Prediction intelligence: Poly Truth.
• P2E meme gaming: Meme Punch.

This kind of mix gives exposure to different parts of the market. BTC and ETH offer scale, LINK offers data infrastructure, PTRUE offers prediction market analysis, and MEPU offers early-stage gaming utility.

Why presales still matter after regulatory progress

Clearer regulation does not remove demand for early-stage crypto. It may actually make the market more selective, because investors will look harder at what a token does and how its supply is structured.

Poly Truth and Meme Punch fit that shift in different ways. PTRUE is tied to event data and probability scoring, while MEPU is tied to gameplay, rewards, and in-game spending.

That gives both projects cleaner stories than many short-lived launches. They still sit in the early-stage market, but their token roles are easier to explain.

What comes next for crypto portfolios

The Clarity Act’s committee approval is not the final step, but it gives crypto a stronger regulatory signal in 2026. If the bill keeps moving, the market may reward assets with clear use cases, visible liquidity, and stronger compliance narratives.

The best crypto to buy now depends on the risk level. Bitcoin and Ethereum offer a cleaner large-cap base, Chainlink gives exposure to trusted data, and presale coins like Poly Truth and Meme Punch add smaller, theme-driven opportunities.

For 2026, the strongest portfolio stories are the ones that are easy to understand. Regulation is moving forward, market data is improving, and crypto buyers are paying closer attention to projects that can explain what their tokens actually do.