XRP Update: Garlinghouse Eyes April 30 Deadline for U.S. “Clarity Act” as Institutional Floodgates Open
The long-awaited "Regulatory Holy Grail" for crypto is finally within reach, and the market is taking notice. Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse..
Quick overview
- Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse predicts a 90% chance that the U.S. Digital Asset Market Clarity Act will pass by the end of April, aligning with market expectations.
- The SEC and CFTC are collaborating under 'Project Crypto' to clarify asset classifications and streamline regulatory processes for the crypto market.
- A debate over stablecoin yields continues in the Senate, with potential compromises being discussed to balance institutional and retail investor interests.
- Analysts are optimistic about XRP's price, forecasting it could reach $4.40 by April if the Clarity Act passes and ETF inflows increase.
The long-awaited “Regulatory Holy Grail” for crypto is finally within reach, and the market is taking notice. Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has been making waves by predicting a 90% chance the U.S. Digital Asset Market Clarity Act (H.R. 3633) will pass by the end of April – a prediction that markets are pretty much in line with, with a 78% likelihood.
But this law is a big deal for XRP holders and big players in the financial world – it basically means the era of “regulation by enforcement” that’s haunted the sector for ten years is finally coming to an end.
“Project Crypto” – The SEC & CFTC Finally Put Aside Their Differences
The two top financial regulators in the U.S. have been working together like never before. Under the new “Project Crypto”, SEC Chair Paul Atkins and CFTC Chair Michael Selig have started to actually coordinate oversight so that the markets can get some much-needed clarity. This is a huge shift, and one that could change the game for everyone in crypto.
What “Project Crypto” Aims To Do:
- Sort out once and for all which assets are “Digital Commodities” (CFTC) vs. “Investment Contracts” (SEC) through joint rulemaking.
- Get exchanges to stop duplicating effort by simplifying registration and getting them to share data to prevent market manipulation and fraud.
- Harmonize their approaches – so that everyone knows what’s what and can focus on innovation.
“For too long,” the Chairs said in a joint statement “market participants have been trying to navigate a minefield. Project Crypto lets innovation thrive.” That’s exactly the kind of forward thinking that the sector has been crying out for.
One Last Hurdle: The Stablecoin Incentive Debate
You might remember back in July the House voted 294-134 in favour of the bill – but the Senate is still locked in a heated debate over how to regulate stablecoin “yields”.
- The problem is: banking lobby is freaking out that allowing stablecoins to give out “yield-style” rewards will cause people to take their cash out of savings accounts.
- But crypto leaders like Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong think that “yield” is a fundamental part of digital finance, and shouldn’t be banned.
Behind the scenes, insiders think a compromise is coming – that will limit rewards for retail investors while letting institutions have a free rein.
XRP: The Institutional Darling of 2026?
For Ripple, all this is the culmination of years of fighting for the right to operate. When a federal law comes in confirming XRP’s status as a non-security, the floodgates are expected to burst.
Ripple Has Been Building Up Its Infrastructure – Big Time:
To prepare for this moment, Ripple has been on an acquisition spree over the last couple of years:
- Hidden Road: Now Ripple Prime – giving institutional players the chance to trade in spot markets.
- GTreasury: Integrating Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin into the cash management systems of big businesses.
- Palisade: A super-powerful wallet designed to handle high-frequency trades for big institutional players.
- Securosys Partnership: Launching bank-grade security solutions for the custody of digital assets.
XRP Price Forecast: Could It Hit $4.40 By April?
As the clock ticks down to the Clarity Act deadline, analysts are getting more optimistic. While some are still cautious, CryptoRank’s AI models are suggesting a pretty rosy outlook – of $4.40 by the end of Q1 2026 if the bill passes, and ETFs keep on pouring in.
| Scenario | XRP Price Target | Catalyst |
| Bull Case | $4.40 | Clarity Act passage + Massive ETF Inflows |
| Base Case | $2.50 | Legislative delay but continued RLUSD adoption |
| Bear Case | $1.35 | Regulatory deadlock + Macro headwinds |
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