A group of Republican lawmakers had refused to support the bills unless they came with a clear ban on a CBDC.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise promised to include that ban in the annual defense spending bill instead, which typically passes without issue. This compromise allowed the procedural vote to pass 217–212.

The three bills on the agenda are part of what party leaders have called “Crypto Week”.

One bill, known as the CLARITY Act, sets rules for cryptocurrency markets. Another, the Anti-CBDC Surveillance Act, prohibits the creation of a US CBDC.

The third, known as the GENIUS Act, outlines regulations for stablecoins. President Donald Trump has urged Congress to pass the GENIUS Act by the end of the week.

The internal dispute over the CBDC ban first came on July 15, when Republicans blocked an earlier attempt to bring the bills to the floor.

Representative Keith Self, who eventually changed his vote, argued that the GENIUS Act would still leave room for a CBDC. Representative Tim Burchett said that moving the CBDC ban to the defense bill was a key part of the compromise.

Letitia James, the Attorney General of New York, recently requested that Congress make changes to two proposed laws focused on stablecoins. What did she say? Read the full story.

On July 17, lawmakers voted 294–134 to pass the Digital Asset Market Clarity (CLARITY) Act. They also passed the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for US Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act by a margin of 308–122. The narrowest vote, 219–210, was on the Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act.

Support for the CLARITY and GENIUS bills came from both parties, with almost 80 Democrats backing the first and over 100 voting for the second.

However, the proposal to stop a CBDC was more divisive. Most Democrats opposed it, while Republicans largely supported it.

Each bill focuses on a different part of the crypto industry. The CLARITY Act defines rules for exchanges and trading platforms, while the GENIUS Act establishes a framework for stablecoins, including standards for reserves and licensing. The Anti-CBDC bill blocks the development of a digital dollar by the Federal Reserve without Congress’s approval.

On July 16, the process was held up for hours when some Republicans refused to advance without a promise to include a ban on CBDCs in a future defense spending bill. Party leaders eventually agreed to this request, which allowed the votes to proceed.

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The central bank digital currency (CBDC) Anti-Surveillance State Act passed the House Financial Services Committee with a close vote of 27–22.

Representative Tom Emmer of Minnesota said the measure is meant to stop the Federal Reserve from creating a digital version of the dollar.

The bill does not just block the Fed from issuing a CBDC directly. It also prevents the central bank from working with private companies to do so on its behalf. Additionally, it would stop the Fed from using digital currency to shape economic policy.

During the committee hearing, Emmer said the government should not be in the business of tracking how people spend their money. In his view, a government-backed digital dollar, unlike decentralized options like Bitcoin
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$83,239.96

, would give too much power to federal agencies.

He warned that if privacy protections are not included, it could lead to restrictions on what people are allowed to buy.

Emmer also pointed to China’s digital yuan and suggested it might be used to monitor spending. He also referenced Canada’s freezing of protester accounts in 2022 as another example of how financial systems can be used to limit freedoms.

During an April 2 hearing in Washington, Representative Maxine Waters raised concerns about a stablecoin linked to President Trump’s family. What did she say? Read the full story.