The BitMEX co-founder’s criticism, reported by Crypto Briefing, centers on how the legislation would treat Bitcoin. Hayes urged a presidential veto rather than passage into law. For related coverage, see Arthur Hayes Says Bitcoin Rally May Wait for Fed Liquidity Injection.
The CLARITY Act is tracked in Congress as H.R. 3633 in the 119th Congress. The bill aims to set a market-structure framework for digital assets. For related coverage, see AINext Awards & Conference Dubai 2026: Where AI Leaders, Innovators and Decision-Makers Shape the Future of Artificial Intelligence.
Arthur Hayes criticizes the CLARITY Act
Hayes is the latest high-profile voice to weigh in on U.S. crypto legislation, and his stance here is combative: he wants the bill stopped, not amended.
The substance of his objection ties directly to Bitcoin’s treatment under the proposed framework, according to the reporting on his remarks. Beyond that attribution, the underlying statement’s full rationale is not independently confirmed here.
Hayes has been an outspoken commentator on Bitcoin’s macro backdrop, including his view that BTC may not rise meaningfully until the Fed adds liquidity. His CLARITY Act critique adds a regulatory front to that commentary.
What the criticism means for the Bitcoin debate
The reported focus of Hayes’s argument is Bitcoin specifically, rather than the broader altcoin market the bill also touches.
That framing matters. It positions the debate as a question about whether a market-structure law helps or hinders the asset Hayes is best known for trading and analyzing, a theme running through his wider crypto outlook on BTC, gold and other assets.
No verified bill provision, price reaction, or investor response is established in the available evidence, so any specific market effect remains unconfirmed. What is clear is the direction of Hayes’s concern: he sees a downside for Bitcoin.
Hayes urges Trump to veto
The headline ask is a veto. Hayes wants Trump to reject the CLARITY Act outright, per the reporting on his comments.
A veto, however, only becomes possible if a bill clears both chambers of Congress and reaches the president’s desk. The current legislative stage of H.R. 3633, and whether it has advanced to that point, is not established in the available evidence.
There is also no confirmed response from Trump or the White House to Hayes’s appeal. Hayes, who has repeatedly warned Bitcoin holders not to lean too heavily on figures like Michael Saylor, is now pressing the case straight to the top of the U.S. government.
Will the White House listen, or will the CLARITY Act move forward regardless of one of crypto’s loudest voices? That is the question Hayes has just forced into the open.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Cryptocurrency and digital asset markets carry significant risk. Always do your own research before making decisions.
