US House Pushes Crypto Bills Forward After Record-Breaking Vote Over CBDC Dispute
Washington, D.C. — The U.S. House of Representatives has moved forward with three key cryptocurrency bills after enduring a record-breaking nine-hour procedural standoff, with tensions centered on language banning central bank digital currencies (CBDCs).
The vote, opened to allow floor debate on the bills, lasted more than nine hours—the longest vote in House history—and passed narrowly on Wednesday night with a 217–212 margin. The delay came as a bloc of Republican lawmakers demanded a firm commitment to prohibit CBDCs, holding the vote hostage until their demands were addressed.
Republicans Trade Holdout for Defense Bill Concession
The standoff broke only after House Majority Leader Steve Scalise reassured the dissenters that language banning CBDCs would be added to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)—a must-pass annual defense spending bill.
Representative Tim Burchett, one of the original holdouts, confirmed in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that the compromise involved moving the CBDC ban to the NDAA. This shift allowed the floor debate resolution to proceed without derailing other legislative objectives.
Inside the Bills: What’s at Stake in Crypto Week
House Republicans have dubbed the current legislative push “Crypto Week,” aiming to pass three crypto-related bills:
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The CLARITY Act, a crypto market structure framework
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The Anti-CBDC Surveillance Act, targeting any federal move toward a government-issued digital currency
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The GENIUS Act, designed to regulate stablecoins
The GENIUS Act, in particular, has drawn national attention. It has the support of former President Donald Trump, who has urged Republicans to pass it before the weekend.
While some Republicans claim the GENIUS Act opens a “back door” for CBDCs, the bill’s current language explicitly states it “should not be interpreted as expanding the Federal Reserve’s authority to offer services directly to the public.”
CLARITY and GENIUS Bills to Be Voted Separately
House Speaker Mike Johnson announced that the GENIUS Act would be the first to face a vote, possibly as soon as Thursday. However, votes on the CLARITY Act and others may be delayed until Friday or early next week, pending procedural negotiations.
This separation is strategic. Tying the bills together risked rejection in the Senate, where opposition remains more complex.
One Republican Breaks Ranks
Among the 217 votes that carried the resolution was an eventual defection by Representative Keith Self, who had earlier claimed the GENIUS Act “will allow a back door to a CBDC.”
Notably, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene was the sole Republican to side with Democrats in opposing the measure outright, signaling continued ideological division even within the GOP.
Historical Precedent and Political Significance
Wednesday’s vote now holds the record for the longest in House history, surpassing a previous record set earlier this month during the debate over Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
This procedural delay demonstrates how deeply divided lawmakers remain over the future of digital currency in the United States, particularly as it pertains to privacy, federal control, and economic innovation.
By placing the CBDC ban into the NDAA, Republicans have secured a path forward for the broader crypto agenda, while also avoiding the risk of Senate rejection due to controversial language.
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