Crypto markets are being shaped by three major developments: lawmakers continue debating the timing of the CLARITY Act, Standard Chartered sees a potential path for Bitcoin to reach $100,000 by year-end, and U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs are closing in on $1 billion in August net inflows.
Gallego Warns Against Rushing the CLARITY Act
Democratic Senator Ruben Gallego has cautioned lawmakers against rushing the CLARITY Act to a Senate vote before unresolved disagreements over crypto regulation are settled.
Speaking at the SALT Wyoming Blockchain Symposium, Gallego argued that Democrats and Republicans should continue negotiating rather than force an early procedural vote.
According to Gallego, lawmakers still need to resolve several provisions, incorporate the Agriculture Committee’s portion of the legislation, assemble the broader legislative package and determine how the final bill would be sent back to the House.
The warning creates additional uncertainty around the Trump administration’s push for passage in September. The bill needs 60 Senate votes to overcome a filibuster, making bipartisan support essential.
Gallego argued that a premature vote could ultimately make passage more difficult rather than accelerate it.
The most contentious issues reportedly include ethics restrictions and the treatment of stablecoin rewards, with lawmakers still attempting to reach a compromise.
Standard Chartered Sees Bitcoin at $100,000
Bitcoin rallied more than 6% toward $69,000 on Wednesday as Standard Chartered analyst Geoff Kendrick suggested that improving U.S. liquidity conditions could help push Bitcoin toward $100,000 by the end of 2026.
Kendrick identified approximately $65,500 as a key technical level. A sustained move above that threshold, he argued, could indicate that Bitcoin’s current cycle low is already in place.
The bullish outlook also follows a decision by the U.S. Treasury to increase the maximum size of certain buybacks of longer-dated government bonds.
From Sept. 9 through Nov. 4, the Treasury plans to increase the maximum size of buybacks involving certain 10- to 30-year Treasury securities from $2 billion to at least $4 billion per operation.
The move could improve liquidity conditions in financial markets. Kendrick believes such liquidity support has historically provided a favorable environment for Bitcoin.
Bitcoin’s limited supply could further strengthen its appeal among investors concerned about currency debasement and expanding liquidity.
However, the $100,000 target remains an analyst projection rather than a guaranteed outcome and will depend on liquidity, investor demand and broader macroeconomic conditions.
Bitcoin ETF Inflows Near $1 Billion in August
Institutional demand for Bitcoin has also strengthened.
U.S.-listed spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded approximately $189.3 million in net inflows on Tuesday, pushing their cumulative August inflows to around $951 million.
The latest inflows followed approximately $297.6 million on Monday, bringing the two-day total to roughly $487 million.
BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust led Tuesday’s inflows with approximately $143.6 million, while Fidelity’s Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund attracted around $23.9 million.
The rebound followed three consecutive sessions of outflows between Aug. 12 and Aug. 14, when Bitcoin ETFs collectively lost around $250 million.
Since their launch, U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs have accumulated approximately $52.28 billion in net inflows, with total net assets reaching roughly $79.3 billion.
Ether ETFs Also Attract Fresh Capital
Demand was not limited to Bitcoin.
U.S. spot Ether ETFs recorded approximately $71.5 million in net inflows on Tuesday, bringing their August total to roughly $345 million.
The continued inflows into both Bitcoin and Ether investment products suggest that institutional exposure to digital assets remains resilient despite recent market volatility.
What to Watch Next
Three factors could shape the crypto market over the coming weeks:
First, the CLARITY Act negotiations will determine whether the U.S. can establish a comprehensive market-structure framework before the Senate’s legislative calendar becomes increasingly constrained.
Second, liquidity conditions could become an important driver for Bitcoin if Treasury operations and broader financial conditions continue supporting risk assets.
Third, ETF flows will provide a real-time indication of institutional demand. Sustained inflows could reinforce Bitcoin’s recovery, while renewed withdrawals could signal that investors remain cautious.
With Bitcoin approaching $69,000, ETF inflows nearing $1 billion for August and policymakers working toward a broader regulatory framework, the coming weeks could prove important for both Bitcoin’s price trajectory and the future of U.S. crypto regulation.
