U.S. Senate and House Agree to Maintain Fed CBDC Ban in Housing Bill

U.S. lawmakers have reached a deal to include a provision in the housing bill that prohibits the Federal Reserve from issuing central bank digital currency (CBDC) until December 31, 2030. The bipartisan agreement involves Senate and House leaders finalizing amendments to the '21st Century Road to Housing Act' and proceeding to a vote. The legislation aims to ease housing burdens by restricting institutional investors from buying single-family homes for rent and includes a CBDC issuance ban on the Fed. Stablecoins are exempt, defined as dollar-denominated, open-source, unlicensed, and private currencies. The compromise follows Senate passage in March and House approval in May, with the House Republican leadership planning a vote after the June 23 recess. The measure incorporates significant portions of Tom Emmer's 2025 CBDC monitoring law, which passed the House but not the Senate. President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January 2025 banning federal agencies from CBDC-related activities, citing threats to financial stability, privacy, and U.S. sovereignty. The agreement allows Congress to focus on other legislation before August recess and the midterms, including the 'Clarity Act' crypto regulation proposal.