- GOP leaders separate CBDC ban to break nine-hour House vote delay on crypto bills.
- GENIUS, CLARITY, and Anti-CBDC Acts now set for individual House floor votes.
- NDAA to include CBDC ban, improving passage chances and easing Senate resistance.
House Republican leaders have resolved a lengthy internal conflict that stalled progress on three major cryptocurrency bills, following a record-breaking procedural delay. A group of GOP lawmakers held up the vote for over nine hours—the longest such delay in U.S. House history, insisting that a proposed ban on central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) be addressed before allowing further action.
The dispute centered on concerns that the GENIUS Act, one of the three bills, could open the door to a government-issued digital dollar. Though the bill includes provisions explicitly stating that it does not authorize the Federal Reserve to provide services directly to the public, opponents within the party demanded stronger restrictions.
CBDC Ban Moved to Defense Legislation
The impasse was resolved after House Majority Leader Steve Scalise committed to including the proposed CBDC ban in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), a separate must-pass spending bill. This move allowed leadership to decouple the contentious digital currency issue from the broader crypto package, enabling the delayed vote to proceed.
The final tally to begin debate passed 217 to 212 late Wednesday, narrowly advancing what had been dubbed “Crypto Week” on Capitol Hill. The compromise also reflected the divided stance within the Republican Party, with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene siding with Democrats in voting against the motion.
Rep. Tim Burchett, one of the members initially withholding support, later confirmed the agreement to shift the CBDC ban to the NDAA. The decision marked a major move in preserving progress on the broader legislative agenda while allowing further discussion on digital currency oversight to continue through defense channels.
Votes Expected on GENIUS, CLARITY, and Anti-CBDC Acts
With the procedural gridlock cleared, three cryptocurrency-related bills are now set for votes on the House floor. The GENIUS Act proposes a regulatory framework for stablecoins, and the CLARITY Act outlines definitions and regulatory oversight for digital assets and market structures.
The Anti-CBDC Surveillance Act would prohibit the Federal Reserve from issuing a CBDC. House leaders have indicated that voting on the GENIUS and CLARITY Act could begin as early as Thursday. However, debate on the Anti-CBDC measure may extend into Friday or the following week.
Speaker Mike Johnson and other senior Republicans suggested that separating the CBDC provisions from the crypto bills may improve their chances in the Senate, where bundled legislation could encounter greater resistance. By moving the CBDC language to the NDAA, leadership hopes to streamline consideration of each bill individually and avoid procedural complications.
The outcome of the pending votes could impact the direction of U.S. digital asset policy. However, final decisions on these measures are expected to define regulatory boundaries for stablecoins, clarify oversight of cryptocurrencies, and address concerns about a potential government-backed digital dollar.
