Bitcoin Surges Above $81K, Solana and Hyperliquid Hit Highs as Markets Brush Off Clarity Act Failure

What happened: Bitcoin jumped more than 5% to reclaim the $80,000 mark, trading above $81,000 on September 18, 2026. Solana rallied over 10% to $113.75, and Hyperliquid (HYPE) soared to a new all-time high above $92. The rally came despite the U.S. Senate failing to advance the Clarity Act, which would have provided comprehensive crypto regulation. Instead, the CFTC and SEC advanced rulemaking using their existing authority. Hyperliquid also launched a new "manual borrows" feature, with $269 million borrowed at launch. Over $470 million in short positions were liquidated across the market.

Why it matters: The market’s resilience in the face of legislative setbacks signals growing confidence in regulator-driven progress. Industry leaders, including Pantera’s Dan Morehead, noted that the SEC and CFTC are implementing many of the reforms envisioned in the Clarity Act. However, some analysts warn that the rally may be overextended, with technical indicators flashing overbought signals.

Source: The Block