Why Are Crypto Prices Rising on CLARITY Act Progress?

The crypto prices today, Friday, February 20, 2026, are showing a slight rise. The total crypto market cap gained $19 billion, pushing it to $2.32 trillion. Bitcoin (BTC)  price experienced a slight upward movement but is still trapped in a range. Other altcoins, such as Ethereum, Solana, XRP, Dogecoin, and TRON, have also increased slightly within the last 24 hours.

CLARITY Act Deadline Approaches in March

The improving market sentiment can be linked to expectations tied to U.S. regulatory developments, especially the CLARITY Act. The proposed law aims to explain online property regulation in the U.S.

The White House has established a deadline, which is important, by March 1, 2026, to address a discussion on stablecoin yield provisions. Such provisions may have serious outcomes on the crypto market.

The bill, which was passed in the house of representatives in July 2025, has been lagging. The question is whether or not issuers of stable coins can provide interest or bonuses to their holders.

Advocates of cryptos claim that these incentives ought to be permissible, with banking industry representatives being on the contrary. The result of these discussions may be the future of stablecoins and regulation of cryptocurrencies in the U.S.

Crypto Prices: BTC, ETH, and Market Sentiment

Bitcoin has found support at around $65,700, keeping it within a tight range. Its price action remains relatively subdued. If Bitcoin long-range prediction maintains support at this level, it may test the upper consolidation range at $70,000. 

Ethereum price on the other hand is recovering and is currently moving around its bottom consolidation point. Should the ETH keep climbing, it would be heading to the $2,100 area.

But the bigger market is very cautious and the mood is still in Extreme Fear. This indicates contrarian buy zone. The institutional investors are taking a cautious stance and they consider the macroeconomic factors. Whale buying has been used to assist to a certain extent, though not much momentum has been felt in the market.

Top Gainers: MYX Finance, Kite, and Midnight

MYX Finance (MYX) is also among the highest gainers in the market, with a growth of 53% to $1.54. Kite (KITE) was close behind with a 15% growth, which pushed its value to 0.2684. Midnight (NIGHT) also performed well, gaining 9% and reaching $0.06318.

Although these altcoins are experiencing massive growth, the general market is still wary. Participants in the market continue to worry about the global economic situation and regulatory risks. 

Also, the number of liquidations has drastically declined, which indicates that forced selling has reduced. The market is still weak, and the liquidity issues still restrain bigger price fluctuations.

The next issue that may increase the volatility of Bitcoin is the release of the December PCE Inflation Report. In case the data arrives at a cooler than expected than anticipated, it would trigger a 4-8% surge in Bitcoin, complicating the existing market prospects.

In conclusion, the crypto prices are moving in a positive direction, yet the market is cautious. The development of the CLARITY Act and the future inflation statistics will probably dictate the further movement in the market.