In a dramatic turn of events this week, the U.S. House of Representatives succeeded in advancing three major crypto bills after a historic, nine‑hour procedural stalemate—the longest floor vote in House history. The breakthrough came late Wednesday with a narrow 217–212 vote to proceed.
The Three Cornerstone Crypto Bills
- GENIUS Act – Aims to create a federal regulatory framework for stablecoins, balancing innovation with oversight. It explicitly clarifies that the Federal Reserve cannot issue services directly to the public, thereby excluding retail CBDCs.
- CLARITY Act – Sets out comprehensive digital-asset market structure rules to define regulatory jurisdiction across agencies and foster institutional participation.
- Anti‑CBDC Surveillance State Act – Seeks to restrict the Federal Reserve from issuing a central bank digital currency—a major red line for many conservatives.
The CBDC Deadlock & Compromise
Hardline Republicans initially opposed advancing the bills, demanding a firm prohibition on CBDCs. After intense negotiations, a compromise was brokered: the CBDC ban will be moved to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)—a must-pass defense spending bill.
Representative Tim Burchett confirmed negotiations included shifting this language into the NDAA, resolving the holdout opposition.
High-Level Political Maneuvering
- Donald Trump personally intervened, meeting with 11 Republicans in the Oval Office and persuading them to support moving forward with the GENIUS Act.
- Speaker Mike Johnson echoed the urgency, stating that the House might vote on the GENIUS and CLARITY Acts by Thursday, with the full package possibly finalizing by next week.
- Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Whip Tom Emmer echoed confidence in passing all three bills—but emphasized that votes must be separated and procedural hurdles cleared first.
Market Response: Crypto Soars
Bullish sentiment hit markets hard:
- Bitcoin surged ~2%, climbing to a new all-time high near $120,000.
- Ethereum rocketed about 8%, trading around $3,288.
- Circle (CRCL) shares spiked ~17% on optimism around stablecoin regulation.
- Coinbase (COIN) stock jumped ~4%, benefiting from anticipated regulatory clarity.
Industry analysts attribute the rally to regulatory clarity, favorable macro conditions, and strong momentum from both legislative and market fronts—groking this as a potentially transformative moment for U.S. crypto adoption.
Also Read: Top Crypto Payment Processors to Watch Out for in 2025
What’s Next?
- Thursday’s anticipated House votes on the GENIUS and CLARITY Acts—possibly followed by the Anti‑CBDC Act.
- Inclusion of CBDC language in the NDAA, potentially ensuring permanent prohibition under defense funding.
- Senate reaction to the separated bills, although procedural separation may smooth progress.
- Market stability or further upside, depending on vote outcomes and the NDAA integration.
Related: Regulatory Clarity in Jeopardy: U.S. Crypto Bills Hit Political Roadblock
Blog Takeaway
Crypto Week in Congress has built significant legislative momentum:
- A record-long 9-hour House stalemate broke with a compromise trading procedural resistance for strategic inclusion in the NDAA.
- Three pivotal bills—GENIUS (stablecoins), CLARITY (asset structure), Anti‑CBDC (prohibition)—are now on track for final House votes.
- Crypto markets responded sharply, with BTC, ETH, and crypto equities hitting new highs amid renewed regulatory confidence.
This marks a defining moment in the U.S. regulatory narrative—a potential shift toward legitimizing crypto as mainstream finance.
