Ripple executive says crypto is no fringe issue in Washington

Ripple legal chief and National Cryptocurrency Association President Stuart Alderoty said Washington should stop treating crypto users as a small political group. 

In a July 7 post on X, he said U.S. crypto holders now represent one of the country’s largest public groups.

Alderoty pointed to National Cryptocurrency Association data showing that 67 million American adults own crypto. He said, “For starters, it means more people have crypto than have dogs.” He added that crypto users are “by any reasonable standard” a large national group.

His comments came after a Politico poll showed limited public support for the CLARITY Act. Alderoty argued that weak support for one bill does not mean crypto users are irrelevant. He said the 27% support figure is close to the share of adults who already hold crypto.

Crypto ownership broadens across the U.S.

The 2026 State of Crypto Holders Report said one in four U.S. adults now owns crypto, or more than 67 million people. The report also said the country added 12 million holders over the past year.

Alderoty said the data challenges old images of crypto holders as wealthy male tech workers or short-term speculators. The report said women made up 42% of new holders in 2025 and 2026, compared with 34% among earlier holders.

The same report said nearly a quarter of holders earn $75,000 or less per year. It also said construction and manufacturing workers now make up more than 21% of the holder base. Alderoty used those figures to argue that crypto ownership now reaches working and middle-class households.

CLARITY Act debate enters tighter window

The remarks come as Congress continues to debate the CLARITY Act, a bill meant to set federal rules for crypto markets. As previously reported, the bill missed its July 4 target and now faces an Aug. 7 deadline before the Senate summer break.

The bill has already cleared key steps, but it still needs a full Senate vote. Senate staff also need to merge versions from the Banking and Agriculture committees before lawmakers can move cleanly toward final passage.

As previously reported, the Senate Banking Committee advanced the bill in a 15 to 9 vote in May. The bill still needs 60 Senate votes, while ethics language, anti-money laundering rules, and agency oversight remain points of debate.

Polling and lobbying shape the fight

Public polling gives lawmakers a mixed picture. A Politico and Public First survey found that crypto ranked low among voter priorities, with only 4% saying a candidate’s crypto stance would shape their vote.

Other polling shows voters want stronger rules. Americans for Financial Reform said voters across parties worry about crypto industry influence in Washington and want crypto firms to follow bank-like rules.

The industry has also increased political spending. Reuters reported that crypto firms have spent $189 million so far on the 2026 U.S. election cycle, more than their 2024 total. The report named Ripple Labs, Coinbase, Andreessen Horowitz, and Foris DAX among the top contributors to corporate policy-focused political action committees.

Alderoty’s message places crypto ownership at the center of the Washington debate. His argument is that lawmakers do not need to endorse a specific token to pass basic rules. They must decide whether 67 million holders are a niche group or a public market that needs clear guardrails.