Ripple Executive Says 67 Million Crypto Holders Should Shift Washington’s Focus as CLARITY Act Stalls

Overview

• On July 7, Ripple chief legal officer Stuart Alderoty published an op‑ed and posted on X citing a National Cryptocurrency Association/Harris Poll report that says one in four U.S. adults, more than 67 million people, now own crypto.
• The industry report shows changing demographics with women making up 42 percent of new holders, roughly 25 percent of holders earning $75,000 or less, and construction and manufacturing workers accounting for more than 21 percent of the holder base.
• The CLARITY Act remains stalled on the Senate calendar with no scheduled floor vote after the Senate Banking Committee advanced the bill in May, and negotiators still need to resolve disputes over enforceable ethics language, Section 604 developer protections, and how to merge competing committee texts before securing roughly 60 votes.
• Crypto firms and trade groups have sharply increased political spending in 2026, with Reuters reporting about $189 million in cycle spending so far, a push Alderoty says bolsters the case that holders are a mainstream constituency for lawmakers to consider.
• Public polls show crypto is a low voting priority for most Americans, with one survey finding only 4 percent would base a vote on a candidate’s crypto stance, creating a tension between industry influence and voter salience that could determine whether Congress acts before the summer recess and whether regulatory uncertainty persists past 2026.