Bitcoin, crypto shares climb after Trump pushes Clarity Act

On Thursday, cryptocurrency and blockchain-related stocks experienced a surge in premarket trading following U.S. President Donald Trump's appeal to Congress for the passage of comprehensive legislation governing the digital asset sector. The call for the passage of the Clarity Act, a bill backed by the industry, came after a White House meeting with industry executives.

This legislation would clarify whether cryptocurrency is classified as a security or a commodity, thus setting the stage for a clearer division of jurisdiction between the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission over the crypto sector.

Industry experts and analysts argue that the absence of such legislation could result in regulatory uncertainty, susceptible to political shifts and legal challenges. However, both Democrats and some Republicans have expressed reservations about supporting the bill without stringent provisions that would prevent political officials, including Trump, from profiting from their own crypto ventures. Trump disclosed a staggering $1.4 billion in earnings from his family's crypto ventures in 2025.

Bitcoin, the leading cryptocurrency by market capitalization, witnessed a 3.4% rise in premarket trading, breaking through the $70,000 resistance level and climbing to around $71,700. Ether also saw a 3.3% increase, its highest level in over three months. These movements echo the sector's uplift following the enactment of the GENIUS Act in July 2025, which established a regulatory framework for stablecoins.

Coinbase Global experienced an 8.4% jump, while bitcoin bull Strategy rose by 10%. Mining companies such as Riot Platforms, MARA Holdings, Hut 8, and Bit Digital saw gains ranging from 3% to 6%. Canaan, a Bitcoin mining machine maker, surged by 20%, and stablecoin issuer Circle gained 8%. Additionally, retail trading platform Robinhood Markets saw a 5% increase.

Despite these gains, the broader market trend remains downward. Bitcoin has suffered a decline of approximately 18% so far in 2026.