US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Friday that advancing the CLARITY crypto market structure bill could steady sentiment amid a sharp downturn, and urged action before the 2026 US midterms. Prediction market data show about 47% expect split control of Congress, while roughly 37% view a Democratic sweep as likely.

On February 14, 2026, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called for rapid passage of the CLARITY crypto market structure bill to bolster investor confidence amid sell-offs. He signaled a spring signing target and highlighted the 2026 midterms as a catalyst for urgency, with Polymarket showing split-control odds and U.S. House data reflecting a narrow Republican edge.

The Dutch House of Representatives has voted to advance a bill introducing a 36% capital gains tax on savings, most liquid investments and cryptocurrencies, including unrealized gains. The measure, targeted for implementation in the 2028 tax year, still requires approval from the Senate and has drawn criticism over potential investor relocation and capital outflows. Dutch indirect crypto investments reached about €1.2 billion by October 2025, while some market participants warn the proposal could weaken the country's appeal for fintech and digital asset businesses.

Earlier in Asian and other global markets, major cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, Cardano, BNB and XRP traded under pressure following Coinbase's reported $667 million loss for the final quarter of 2025. Bitcoin briefly dropped toward $65k before rebounding to around $67k, while Standard Chartered projected a potential short-term decline to $50k ahead of a possible recovery to $100k by year-end.

Lark Davis argues that, despite heavy selling and record oversold readings in Bitcoin and altcoins, crypto may be setting up for a bear‑market exit while traders hold roughly $25 billion in shorts. He links this positioning with fragile U.S. stock indices, a projected $15 trillion IPO pipeline, and long‑term AI and tokenization trends that could favor blockchain rails, even as spot demand in the United States remains weak.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC on Friday that passing the proposed Clarity Act, a digital asset market structure bill, could help reduce uncertainty and support more stable crypto markets. He linked part of Bitcoin's roughly 29% monthly decline to industry pushback against regulation and warned that shifting political dynamics and opposition from some firms may still derail the legislation, which prediction markets currently see as having a 62% chance of becoming law by the end of 2026.

On February 13 2026, the Trump administration briefly published and then withdrew a Section 1260H list in the Federal Register labeling several Chinese firms, including Alibaba, BYD, Baidu and WuXi AppTec, as "Chinese military companies". The Pentagon reportedly requested the removal without explanation, prompting Democratic lawmakers to argue the move weakens US national security and sending mixed signals ahead of an April summit between President Trump and President Xi.

On February 14 2026, the Dutch House of Representatives approved the Actual Return in Box 3 Act, which would tax real returns on savings, investments and cryptocurrencies at a flat 36% from January 1 2028. The proposal covers gains on assets even when they are not sold, while real estate and qualifying startup shares are taxed on disposal but their rent and dividends remain taxed annually. Critics warn the measure could push investors and entrepreneurs to move capital, highlighting large long‑term differences in projected portfolio values under the new regime.