This Week in Crypto Law (Feb. 28, 2026)

1. Clarity Act: Is Passage Imminent?

According to Brad Garlinghouse, CEO of Ripple, there is a 90% chance the Clarity Act will pass by April. Meanwhile, prediction markets are pricing the odds at 78% by year end. The bill previously passed the House in July and is now awaiting a Senate vote.

If enacted, the Clarity Act would establish clearer federal jurisdictional boundaries between regulators and provide long-awaited guidance for digital asset businesses operating in the United States.

You can read more about Garlinghouse’s comments here: https://cryptonews.com/news/ripple-ceo-clarity-act-prediction-april/

2. White House Pushes Stablecoin Compromise by March 1

One of the most contentious elements of the Clarity Act involves stablecoin yield and reward structures. According to reporting, the White House has set a March 1 deadline to resolve disagreements around whether and how stablecoin rewards should be permitted under the legislation.

Many industry observers view this as the final major hurdle to getting the bill across the finish line. If compromise is reached, it could significantly increase the likelihood of comprehensive federal digital asset legislation becoming law this spring.

More details are available here: https://coinpedia.org/news/white-house-signals-compromise-on-stablecoin-rewards-in-crypto-bill/

3. SEC Eases Capital Treatment for Certain Stablecoins

In a notable shift, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has updated its guidance to allow certain stablecoins to be counted toward regulatory capital with only a 2% haircut.

Put simply, banks, broker-dealers, and clearing firms can now treat qualifying stablecoins as near-cash equivalents when calculating capital reserves. This makes it significantly more feasible for regulated financial institutions to hold stablecoins on their balance sheets.

This change could accelerate institutional adoption and increase stablecoin integration into traditional financial infrastructure.

Full coverage: https://www.pymnts.com/cryptocurrency/2026/sec-guidance-eases-capital-rules-pushing-stablecoins-closer-to-cash-status/

4. Hyperliquid Launches Policy Center to Shape DeFi Regulation

Decentralized finance platforms are also stepping directly into the policy arena. Hyperliquid has launched the Hyperliquid Policy Center (HPC), appointing Jake Chervinsky as CEO. The initiative is reportedly funded with 1,000,000 HYPE tokens.

The stated mission of the HPC is to help shape U.S. regulation for DeFi, with a particular focus on establishing regulatory frameworks for perpetual futures trading — an area that has long operated in legal gray zones.

More on the launch: https://www.ainvest.com/news/hyperliquid-launches-policy-center-influence-defi-regulations-2602/

5. Russia Classifies Crypto as “Intangible Property”

Regulatory clarity is not limited to the U.S. Russia has formally classified cryptocurrency as “intangible property,” allowing courts to seize digital assets in criminal cases. When feasible, confiscated crypto will reportedly be transferred to government-controlled wallets.

This development increases enforcement capabilities and reflects a broader global trend: governments are moving from debating crypto’s legitimacy to building concrete frameworks for oversight and asset recovery.

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Staying informed and compliant in this evolving landscape is more critical than ever. Whether you are an investor, entrepreneur, or business involved in cryptocurrency, our team is here to help. We provide the legal counsel needed to navigate these exciting developments. If you believe we can assist, schedule a consultation here.