U.S. House Clears Housing Package With CBDC Ban Through 2030
The U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday passed the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, a broad housing package that also bars the Federal Reserve from issuing a central bank digital currency (CBDC) through Dec. 31, 2030.
The measure passed 358–32 and heads to the White House after clearing the Senate the previous day. President Donald Trump has indicated support and is expected to sign it.
The legislation prohibits the Fed—directly or indirectly—from "issuing or creating" a CBDC or any digital asset deemed "substantially similar." Supporters say the provision prevents the central bank from rolling out a CBDC-style instrument, while crypto advocates argue it helps keep decentralized technologies from being reworked into a centrally controlled payment system.
A notable exception is included for certain dollar-denominated crypto stablecoins described as "open, permissionless and private." Market participants are likely to focus on how that carve-out is interpreted in practice, since the wording suggests that eligibility may hinge on accessibility and privacy features rather than a blanket approval of all dollar-pegged tokens.
The phrase "substantially similar" could also shape the rule’s reach. Its breadth leaves room for regulators and lawmakers to apply the restriction to initiatives that share key CBDC characteristics even if they carry a different label, potentially affecting future experiments in tokenized settlement and digital payment infrastructure.
Republicans have pushed CBDC limits for years, and the provision echoes earlier efforts tied to Rep. Tom Emmer’s Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act, introduced in June 2025 and reported to have passed the House the following month without advancing in the Senate.
With the housing bill moving off Congress’ immediate agenda, attention is expected to shift to other major crypto legislation, including the Senate’s market structure proposal known as the CLARITY Act. Cointelegraph previously reported that Galaxy Digital lowered its estimate of the bill’s chances to 60% earlier this month as the legislative calendar tightens ahead of the August recess and November midterm elections.
For investors and builders tracking U.S. crypto policy, the next key questions are how broadly the "substantially similar" language will be applied and how regulators interpret the stablecoin exception as the 2030 deadline becomes a central policy marker.
