The United States is moving closer to a major central bank digital currency ban after the House passed a housing bill that includes language blocking the Federal Reserve from creating a CBDC until 2030.
The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act passed the House in a 358-32 vote on Tuesday, just one day after the Senate approved the bill by 85-5. The legislation now heads to US President Donald Trump, who is expected to sign it into law.
While the bill mainly focuses on housing affordability, it has gained major attention from the crypto industry because it includes one of the strongest anti-CBDC measures passed by Congress so far.
US Congress Moves Toward a CBDC Ban
The bill would prevent the Federal Reserve from directly or indirectly creating or issuing a central bank digital currency, also known as a CBDC.
According to the bill’s language, the Fed may not “issue or create a central bank digital currency or any digital asset that is substantially similar to a central bank digital currency.”
The restriction would remain in place until December 31, 2030.
For Republicans and many crypto supporters, this is a major policy victory. They have argued for years that a government-backed digital dollar could increase financial surveillance and give authorities too much control over private payments.
What Is a CBDC?
A CBDC is a digital version of fiat money issued by a central bank. In the US, that would mean a digital form of the dollar created and controlled by the Federal Reserve.
Unlike decentralized cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, CBDCs are not open, permissionless assets. They are controlled by central banks and government monetary systems.
This difference is one of the main reasons why many crypto advocates oppose CBDCs. They believe the technology behind digital assets should support financial freedom, privacy, and decentralization, not expand government control over money.
A Major Win for Republicans and Crypto Advocates
The CBDC ban has been a long-term priority for Republican lawmakers.
Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott praised the passage of the housing bill, saying Congress had delivered “a major win for families working toward the American Dream.”
For crypto advocates, the CBDC ban is also seen as a major step toward protecting the private digital asset market. Many in the industry believe a government-controlled digital dollar could compete with private stablecoins and weaken the role of decentralized finance.
The measure is also likely to strengthen confidence among supporters of US crypto regulation who want clear rules without expanding government control over digital payments.
Stablecoins Are Excluded From the Ban
The bill includes an important carve-out for crypto stablecoins.
It allows dollar-denominated digital currency that is “open, permissionless and private.” This means the CBDC ban does not apply to private stablecoins that meet these conditions.
This distinction is important because stablecoins are becoming a key part of the digital asset economy. They are widely used for crypto trading, payments, decentralized finance, and cross-border transfers.
By excluding stablecoins from the CBDC restriction, lawmakers are signaling that they see a clear difference between a government-issued digital dollar and private-sector digital assets.
Tom Emmer’s Anti-CBDC Push Gains Momentum
The CBDC language in the housing bill revives key parts of Republican Representative Tom Emmer’s Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act.
That bill was introduced in June 2025 and passed the House one month later, but it did not move forward in the Senate.
By including similar language in the housing bill, lawmakers have found a faster path to push the CBDC ban closer to becoming law.
For Emmer and other Republicans, the goal is to stop the Federal Reserve from launching a digital dollar without direct approval from Congress.
Why the Housing Bill Moved Quickly
The bill’s quick progress came after House and Senate leaders reached an agreement last week following earlier disputes over parts of the legislation.
The broader housing package is designed to address the ongoing US housing affordability crisis. Its main goal is to improve access to housing and support families trying to buy homes.
However, the inclusion of the CBDC ban has turned the bill into an important moment for the crypto market and the future of digital asset regulation in the United States.
What This Means for US Crypto Regulation
With the housing bill now heading to President Trump, Congress can shift more attention to other crypto-related legislation.
One of the most closely watched bills is the CLARITY Act, a crypto market structure bill designed to create clearer rules for digital assets in the US.
The CLARITY Act has gained strong interest from lawmakers and the crypto industry, but it still faces pushback from both crypto and banking lobbyists.
Despite months of discussions, the bill’s chances of passing this year have weakened as the congressional calendar becomes tighter.
Earlier this month, Galaxy Digital lowered its estimate of the Senate passing the CLARITY Act before the end of the year to 60%.
The Bigger Picture for Digital Assets in the US
The expected CBDC ban shows that US lawmakers are becoming more active in shaping the future of digital money.
If signed into law, the housing bill would block the Federal Reserve from creating a CBDC until 2030, while still allowing room for private stablecoins and open digital assets to grow.
For the crypto industry, this could be seen as a positive signal. It suggests that Congress may be more willing to support private digital assets, stablecoins, and decentralized finance than a government-controlled digital dollar.
At the same time, the future of broader crypto regulation remains uncertain. The next major test will be whether lawmakers can move forward with the CLARITY Act and other digital asset bills before the political calendar becomes even more difficult.
Conclusion
The US is now close to passing one of its strongest restrictions on central bank digital currencies.
The CBDC ban until 2030 would mark a major win for Republicans, crypto advocates, and supporters of financial privacy. It would also send a clear message that the United States is not ready to allow the Federal Reserve to launch a digital dollar without stronger political debate and legal approval.
With President Trump expected to sign the housing bill, the crypto industry will now be watching closely to see what happens next with stablecoin rules, the CLARITY Act, and the broader future of US crypto regulation.
