JAKARTA – Bitcoin (BTC) prices have shown significant strength following the advancement of the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act (Clarity Act) to a vote by the U.S. Senate Banking Committee. This pivotal development, spearheaded by U.S. Senators Tillis and Alsobrooks, introduces carefully crafted amendments to the bill, aiming to strike a crucial balance between fostering innovation within the digital asset space and safeguarding consumer deposits.
As reported by Coin Market Cap on Friday, May 15, 2026, at 08:11 AM WIB (Western Indonesian Time), Bitcoin’s price surged by 2.41% over a 24-hour period, reaching US$81,502. This positive momentum extends to its weekly performance, with the cryptocurrency recording a robust 2.20% gain, underscoring a period of notable recovery and investor confidence.
According to Chee Zheng Feng, an Analyst at DBS Bank, the progression of the Clarity Act represents a constructive compromise for both traditional banks and cryptocurrency companies. He notes that while the bill prohibits deposit-like interest returns for stablecoins, it strategically allows for use-based incentives. This nuanced approach is designed to mitigate concerns about potential deposit flight from banks, ensuring stability in the traditional financial sector.
Simultaneously, this legislative framework creates ample room for crypto companies to effectively incentivize customer engagement with stablecoins for various purposes, including trading, transactions, or staking. Feng further elaborates that, in the long term, this development is expected to facilitate the transformation of stablecoins into assets with productive use cases, thereby bolstering the fundamental value proposition of cryptocurrencies within the broader financial ecosystem.
He adds that companies deeply involved in the stablecoin ecosystem – encompassing both innovative fintech firms and established traditional financial institutions – stand to gain significantly. They are poised to benefit from the anticipated surge in demand for the issuance, secure storage, and efficient transaction processing associated with stablecoins, signaling a robust growth trajectory for these digital assets.
Beyond the legislative landscape, Feng’s analysis also highlights the sustained recovery of cryptocurrencies through April and early May, demonstrating returns comparable to those observed in the stock market. Since the end of March, Bitcoin has recorded impressive consecutive monthly gains of 18%, while Ether has seen an 8% increase. This performance broadly aligns with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq, which rose approximately 10-15% over the identical period, in stark contrast to the largely stagnant price of gold.
Fueling this market resurgence, major cryptocurrencies have also experienced robust net inflows into Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) and significant purchases by Digital Asset Treasury (DATCO) entities. Bitcoin, in particular, has benefited from overwhelming demand, with its ETF inflows reaching a staggering US$2 billion, complemented by an additional US$4 billion in purchases by Strategy. Meanwhile, Ethereum observed more moderate, yet substantial, ETF inflows of US$356 million, alongside approximately US$760 million in purchases by Bitmine, indicating healthy, albeit differentiated, investor interest.
Feng further elucidates the significance of these figures, stating that the combined purchases for Ethereum, approaching US$1 billion, represented approximately 0.4% of its market capitalization by the end of March 26. This level of investment is notably comparable to the substantial US$6 billion in Bitcoin purchases, which accounted for approximately 0.45% of its market capitalization at the close of March 26. Such proportional inflows underscore the strong institutional appetite and increasing mainstream adoption for leading digital assets.
Summary
Bitcoin prices have surged to US$81,502, reflecting a 2.41% daily increase following the U.S. Senate Banking Committee’s advancement of the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act. This legislative development aims to balance innovation in the digital asset sector with the protection of consumer deposits by establishing clear guidelines for stablecoins. Analysts suggest that these regulations provide a constructive framework for both traditional financial institutions and cryptocurrency companies to foster growth.
Market confidence is further bolstered by strong institutional demand, evidenced by significant net inflows into ETFs and substantial purchases by treasury entities. Bitcoin and Ethereum have demonstrated robust performance, recording monthly gains that mirror major stock indices like the S&P 500 and Nasdaq. This increased institutional interest and legislative progress indicate a positive long-term outlook for the integration of digital assets into the broader financial ecosystem.