Clarity Act: Coinbase Rejects Stablecoin Yield Reward Limits

The US “Clarity Act” is again drawing opposition in the Senate, with Coinbase saying it cannot support the bill’s current wording, especially proposed caps on stablecoin rewards for holders. The Clarity Act would tighten rules around dollar-pegged stablecoins, limiting rewards that can function like interest paid on stablecoin balances. Banking groups helped push the Clarity Act after warning that high stablecoin yields could divert money away from bank savings, weakening deposits and lending. Coinbase and CEO Brian Armstrong argue the restrictions could curb innovation and tilt advantage toward banks, while Armstrong has said Americans should be able to earn competitive returns on digital money. Market reaction has been negative after reward-limit headlines. Coinbase shares reportedly fell about 10% in a day and Circle’s stock dropped nearly 20%, with traders focused on whether smaller loyalty or activity rewards would still be allowed versus large “interest-style” payments being constrained. Lawmakers are expected to revisit the Clarity Act after the Easter break in April 2026, with a markup session likely to follow. For traders, the key risk is that the Clarity Act moves from draft debate toward enforceable constraints on stablecoin incentive economics, which could affect demand for stablecoin balances and the broader digital payments outlook in the US.