Analyst revamps Coinbase rating as Clarity Act hearing nears

Group 1 - Coinbase is reconsidering its support for the CLARITY Act due to concerns over the text related to platform-based rewards [1][5] - The CLARITY Act aims to provide regulatory clarity for the crypto markets by establishing distinct classes for digital assets [2][3] - The Act assigns responsibilities to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), creating new regulated entities [3] Group 2 - Banks are concerned that user rewards on crypto platforms may fall under securities or banking laws, potentially affecting traditional banking systems [4] - Coinbase's partnership with Circle allows it to share interest income from reserves backing USD Coin (USDC), providing a steady income stream [6] - The success of USDC directly benefits Coinbase, as it holds a small stake in Circle [6]