NEW YORK, Oct. 4 (CandyPulse) — Washington may have hit the brakes on crypto legislation, but Wall Street's dealmakers haven't. Despite the CLARITY Act's failure in the Senate, bankers and investors told CoinDesk they don't expect crypto mergers and acquisitions to stop.
Key takeaways
The bill, which would have split crypto oversight between the SEC and the CFTC, fell short of the 60 votes needed to move forward. Talks broke down largely over ethics rules for senior officials' crypto business interests, including President Trump's.
With the November midterms approaching and little time left on the legislative calendar, its chances of passing this year have dropped sharply.
| Factor | Why it supports dealmaking |
|---|---|
| Record first half | $9.7 billion in disclosed deals shows strong momentum |
| Regulators still active | The SEC and CFTC are writing rules under existing powers |
| Strategic needs | Firms still want licences, technology and customers |
| Traditional finance interest | Banks and exchanges keep moving into crypto |
Many of the biggest moves this year, from exchanges buying derivatives platforms to traditional firms partnering with crypto companies, were driven by long-term strategy rather than a single law.
Bankers did acknowledge that the bill's collapse might curb some interest. Without clear legislation, buyers face more uncertainty about how acquired businesses will be regulated, and that can make valuations harder.
M&A is a good barometer of confidence. If big companies are still willing to buy crypto businesses even without new laws, it suggests they see the industry as here to stay, regardless of how long Congress takes.
Watch for how quickly the SEC and CFTC move under their existing authority. Clear rules from regulators could keep the dealmaking momentum going while legislation stalls.
This article is for information only and is not financial advice.
El Salvador Wins $138 Million IMF Approval as Bitcoin-Related Waivers Accompany Funding
Safe Governance Under Pressure as Greenfield Files Swiss Supervisory Complaint
Japan Adds Russian Exchange Garantex to Its Sanctions List
Bitcoin Tests $87K, Sellers Push Back as BTC Retreats After Approaching $86,950