The Clarity Act and the Bitcoin Reserve Are Both Moving

Hey Lantern Community,

Washington had a big week for crypto. The Clarity Act is moving, a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve announcement is coming, and markets are still shaking off a war escalation scare that sent Bitcoin below $77,000.

We also have a platform update for you. But first, market update!

Trump delays planned strike on Iran

After President Trump warned Iran the "clock is ticking," Bitcoin dropped 2.4% to $76,500 and Ether fell 3.5% to $2,116.

Then the mood shifted.

President Trump said he was literally “an hour away” from ordering a major new attack (originally set for May 19–20) but postponed it 2–3 days at the direct request of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and UAE leaders.

They told him they were “very close” to finalizing a deal with Tehran and needed the window to avoid wider chaos. He put US forces on standby and said a “full, large-scale assault” is still ready “on a moment’s notice” if no deal materializes. Gulf states are pushing hard for de-escalation to protect oil flows.

Clarity Act advances in the Senate

On May 14 the Senate Banking Committee voted 15-9 to advance the Digital Asset Market Clarity (CLARITY) Act. It splits oversight (CFTC for spot commodities, SEC for securities-like tokens), adds consumer protections, stablecoin rules, and aims to give the industry long-sought regulatory certainty.

It already passed the House last year and is now heading toward a full Senate vote (could be this summer after some merging of versions).

Strategic Bitcoin Reserve (SBR) update incoming soon

White House digital assets adviser Patrick Witt said this week that a formal announcement on the U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve is “in the next few weeks” and called the legal groundwork a “breakthrough.” The administration has been working on safeguarding the government’s ~328k BTC holdings and treating Bitcoin more like a strategic asset (similar to gold). No full details dropped yet, but the tease kept the narrative alive

Lantern Update: Pay Refinance Fees Through Your Bank Account

You can now pay refinance fees directly through your connected bank account on the Lantern dashboard.

Just connect your bank, and you're all set.

Log into your dashboard to get started. https://lantern.finance/dashboard

Until next time,

The Lantern Team

This newsletter is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always consult with your financial advisor before making lending decisions.