GOP Lawmakers Demand Ban on Central Bank Digital Currency
The U.S. House of Representatives is once again attempting to advance three key crypto bills, but internal disputes over Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) policy are threatening to derail momentum. On Tuesday, a procedural vote was postponed after 13 Republican lawmakers, including House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, withdrew their support unless a CBDC ban was included in the package.
The dissenters demanded amendments to the GENIUS Act, claiming it doesn’t go far enough to prevent a future U.S. digital dollar and fails to guarantee self-custody of digital assets.
Speaker Johnson: Crypto Legislation a Priority
House Speaker Mike Johnson confirmed plans to bring the bills back for a vote on Wednesday, stating that passing crypto legislation is a priority shared by the White House, the Senate, and the House.
Johnson, however, rejected calls to bundle the three bills — the GENIUS Act (focused on stablecoin regulation), the Anti-CBDC Surveillance Act, and the CLARITY Act (focused on market structure). He argued that doing so would risk Senate approval.
“We have to do them in succession,” Johnson said, noting the procedural limits and resistance from Senate Democrats.
‘Crypto Week’ Turns Contentious in the House
This week has been branded as “Crypto Week” by Republicans seeking to pass meaningful crypto legislation before the August recess. In contrast, Democrats have labeled it “Anti-Crypto Corruption Week,” accusing Republicans of rushing bills without proper safeguards.
House members like Marjorie Taylor Greene, Andy Biggs, and Anna Paulina Luna took to X to explain their “no” votes were tied specifically to concerns about a CBDC framework and the lack of amendment opportunities.
Trump Administration’s Executive Order Resurfaces
Tensions around the CBDC debate were further inflamed by former President Donald Trump’s executive order issued in January, which proposed a full ban on a Federal Reserve-backed digital currency.
The lingering influence of that policy is shaping current GOP demands to explicitly block any such initiatives before approving broader digital asset regulations.
Will Crypto Bills Survive Party Tensions?
While there is bipartisan interest in establishing clear U.S. crypto laws, internal GOP divisions over CBDC policy are delaying progress. With just weeks before Congress recesses, House leadership must find a compromise to move the bills forward—or risk losing momentum altogether.
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