On Wednesday, House Republicans finally brokered an agreement to move forward with three cryptocurrency bills following an unprecedented nine-hour procedural vote, marking the longest in the history of the House.
The delay stemmed from Republican hardliners, who withheld their support until a ban on central bank digital currencies (CBDC) was assured.
Late Wednesday, the procedural vote passed with a narrow margin of 217 to 212, after House Majority Leader Steve Scalise agreed to incorporate a CBDC ban into the must-pass National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) defense spending bill, rather than attaching it to the crypto bills.
Following the longest vote in House history, Crypto Week lives on! pic.twitter.com/WsJjSJfdPU
— Bryan Steil (@RepBryanSteil) July 17, 2025
Crypto Legislation at a Crossroads
Fox Business journalist Eleanor Terrett interviewed a Republican Senate staffer who commented:
“We’re just hoping the House can push something through so crypto legislation can proceed to the next stage. We have paths forward, but another failed vote that stalls momentum is the last thing we need.”
The three critical crypto bills under consideration this week include the CLARITY Act, a bill focused on crypto market structure; the GENIUS Act, stablecoin regulations that President Trump aims to pass before the weekend; and the Anti-CBDC Surveillance Act, designed to prohibit the Federal Reserve from issuing a central bank digital currency.
Hardliners voiced concerns that the GENIUS Act could inadvertently provide the Fed with a means to introduce a CBDC.
President Trump engaged directly with the holdouts at the White House to negotiate a new agreement, with House Speaker Mike Johnson participating via phone, according to Fox Business.
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, known for his strong support of crypto, faced criticism over the lack of secured votes. He stated:
“By attaching our Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act to the NDAA, we ensure that unelected officials will NEVER be permitted to exchange Americans’ financial privacy for a surveillance tool akin to the CCP’s.”
Josh Vlasto, spokesperson for Fairshake, remarked, “Congress needs to stop politicizing crypto and finally implement sensible regulation.”
GENIUS and CLARITY Votes Scheduled for Tomorrow
This delay highlights a deeper frustration among House conservatives who are weary of consistently having to accept the Senate’s versions of legislation. The House is set to vote separately on the GENIUS and CLARITY bills, as well as rescissions, on Thursday.
“The strategy has always been to conduct separate votes on GENIUS and CLARITY,” stated Representative Bill Huizenga, adding, “I’m relieved that cooler heads have prevailed, and we can now proceed.”
Earlier this week, Republican Representative French Hill cautioned that the absence of a regulatory framework like the CLARITY Act could result in another industry collapse similar to FTX.
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