TLDR
- Stuart Alderoty said 67M U.S. crypto holders are not a fringe group.
- One in four American adults now owns crypto, the report said.
- Alderoty said crypto ownership grew by 12M Americans in one year.
- The CLARITY Act remains on the Senate calendar with no floor vote set.
- The bill needs 60 Senate votes to clear the filibuster.
Ripple Chief Legal Officer Stuart Alderoty said U.S. crypto holders should not be treated as a fringe group as the CLARITY Act faces a narrowing path in the Senate.
In an op-ed titled “Don’t Call 67 Million Americans a Fringe,” Alderoty cited the National Cryptocurrency Association’s 2026 State of Crypto Holders Report, conducted with The Harris Poll. The report found that one in four American adults now owns crypto, equal to more than 67 million people.
Alderoty said the figure should shape how lawmakers view digital asset regulation. His comments come as the CLARITY Act remains stalled in the Senate, with no floor vote scheduled before the August recess window.
Alderoty Cites 67M Crypto Holders
Alderoty argued that the number of U.S. crypto holders matches the level of support cited in a recent Politico poll on the CLARITY Act. That poll suggested 27% of Americans support the bill.
He wrote that the two figures should not be treated as conflicting data points. “These aren’t two different data points in tension. They’re the same Americans, seen from two angles,” Alderoty said.
The Ripple CLO said crypto ownership grew from one in five Americans last year to one in four this year. He said the increase means about 12 million more Americans entered the crypto economy within a year.
Alderoty also rejected the idea that crypto holders are mainly wealthy or tech-focused. He said more than half of holders earn less than $150,000 in household income, while nearly a quarter earn under $75,000.
Report Shows Wider Crypto Use
Alderoty said female crypto ownership rose 10% year over year, with women making up 42% of new holders. He said that trend challenges older views of who uses digital assets.
He also cited construction and manufacturing workers as more than 21% of the holder base. That share is close to the combined total for technology and financial services workers.
The op-ed said many crypto holders use digital assets for payments, donations, business activity, and transfers to friends and family. Alderoty said blockchain tools are also being used outside financial trading.
Examples included Oklahoma ranchers using blockchain records for cattle tracking, workers using verified credentials, and tokenization improving access to assets such as real estate and small business equity.
CLARITY Act Remains Stalled
The CLARITY Act, formally known as H.R. 3633, remains on the Senate Legislative Calendar as Calendar No. 423. The bill has no scheduled floor vote and no cloture motion filed.
The House passed the bill in July 2025 by a 294-134 vote. The Senate Banking Committee advanced it on May 14, 2026, by a 15-9 vote.
The Senate returns from recess on July 13. Lawmakers then have a short window before the August recess, which many analysts view as a key deadline for 2026 passage.
The bill needs 60 votes to clear the Senate filibuster. Republicans hold 53 seats, but reports said Senators Josh Hawley and Rand Paul are expected to oppose the bill, increasing the need for Democratic support.
Senate Disputes Delay Crypto Bill
Three disputes remain central to the delay. They include ethics language, Section 604 developer protections, and the process of merging Senate Banking and Agriculture Committee texts.
Brian Gardner, chief Washington policy strategist at Stifel, said the bill “probably needs to get through the Senate by the end of July.” He said missing the August recess could cause its prospects to “deteriorate materially.”
Alderoty said the CLARITY Act does not ask Congress to support one crypto asset. He said it would create a framework to protect consumers and allow lawful firms to compete.
He wrote,
“Sixty-seven million people are not asking Washington to do them a favor. They are asking their government to do its job.”
