Bessent Ties CLARITY Act to US National Security as Bitcoin Eyes $85K in September

• Scott Bessent is framing the CLARITY Act as a US national security issue, arguing clearer US crypto regulation would strengthen enforcement and market oversight
• Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong says US crypto regulation can still advance even if Congress fails to pass the bill
• Bitcoin is trading near $78,000, while a September forecast points to a possible high around $84,947, or roughly 9% upside

The CLARITY Act is back in focus after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent tied the crypto bill directly to US national security and urged senators to keep negotiations alive. His intervention comes at an interesting time for the market. The Bitcoin price is hovering around $78,000 after struggling to hold recent gains, while a fresh Bitcoin price prediction sees BTC climbing toward $85,000 before September ends.

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Scott Bessent Raises the Stakes for the CLARITY Act

Bessent urged senators returning from recess to keep negotiations going and warned that walking away from the CLARITY Act would send the wrong message about US leadership in digital assets. He also argued that clearer rules would give authorities better tools to deal with illicit activity involving crypto.

The CLARITY Act is meant to clear up one of the biggest problems hanging over US crypto regulation. It focuses on who regulates what. It would spell out how digital assets are classified and divide oversight between agencies.

A key procedural vote is expected on September 15, and lobbying from both crypto firms and banks has picked up ahead of it.

Coinbase has also made the case that the CLARITY Act can still move forward through regulators even if Congress does not pass the legislation. The difference is permanence. Rules written by agencies can be changed more easily by a future administration, while legislation gives the industry a firmer framework.

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Bitcoin Price Prediction Keeps $85K in View

Amidst the CLARITY Act discussions, Bitcoin was trading near $78,180, down about 1.3% over 24 hours.

The September forecast puts the average Bitcoin price at $81,816 and the upper end at $84,947. From current levels, that would mean roughly 9% upside.

There is one weak spot in that forecast already. It puts the September low at $79,140, while BTC has traded below that level. It makes the $85,000 target possible, but hardly comfortable. Bitcoin first needs to get back above $79,000-$80,000 and hold there. With the Clarity Act vote due next week, traders now have another event on the calendar that could shape sentiment around that move.

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