US House Advances Crypto Bills After 9-Hour Vote Standoff Over CBDC Ban

A record 9-hour House vote ended with approval to advance three major crypto bills: the CLARITY Act, GENIUS Act, and Anti-CBDC Act.

Republican hardliners delayed the vote to secure a guaranteed CBDC ban, which will now be included in the defense spending bill (NDAA).

Speaker Mike Johnson confirmed votes on the GENIUS Act and CLARITY Act could happen Thursday or be pushed to Friday or next week.

The legislative momentum comes during what House leaders are calling “Crypto Week.”

In a historic procedural standoff, the U.S. House of Representatives has cleared the path for three key cryptocurrency bills after a record-breaking nine-hour vote on Wednesday. The delay stemmed from a group of Republican lawmakers demanding assurances that a ban on central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) would be enacted.

The Bills in Focus

The legislation now set for debate includes:

CLARITY Act: A comprehensive market structure bill for digital assets.

GENIUS Act: Establishes rules for U.S. stablecoins.

Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act: Aims to ban the creation of a U.S. central bank digital currency.

These bills are central to House Republicans’ designated “Crypto Week”, reflecting the party’s push for digital asset innovation while curbing federal power over programmable money.

CBDC Ban Moved to NDAA

Hardline Republicans, led by lawmakers such as Rep. Keith Self and Marjorie Taylor Greene, had initially stalled the vote, fearing the GENIUS Act could allow a backdoor for a Federal Reserve–issued CBDC. The breakthrough came when House leadership, including Majority Leader Steve Scalise, agreed to attach the CBDC ban to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) — a must-pass bill.

Rep. Tim Burchett confirmed the compromise in a video post, saying leadership agreed to the move to avoid sinking the GENIUS Act in the Senate.

What’s Next?

Speaker Mike Johnson said the GENIUS Act could receive a separate vote as soon as Thursday, with the CLARITY Act potentially following on Friday or early next week.

Historic Delay Sets Legislative Record

The procedural vote was held open for over nine hours, surpassing the previous House record set just earlier this month during deliberations on Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The final tally was 217–212 in favor, allowing formal debate to proceed.

Broader Implications

With President Donald Trump reportedly aiming to sign the GENIUS Act before the weekend and bipartisan momentum building around crypto regulation, the passage of these bills could mark a major turning point for U.S. digital asset policy.

If enacted, the bills could bring clarity to market structure, legal protection for stablecoin issuers, and a formal rejection of CBDCs, reshaping the regulatory future of crypto in the United States.