U.S. Senate advances housing bill with CBDC ban through 2030

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Senate advances housing bill with CBDC ban

Highlights

The U.S. Senate passed the 21st Century Road to Housing Act 85-5, advancing both housing supply measures and a ban on Fed-issued CBDC through 2030.
The bill requires explicit Congressional authorization for any Federal Reserve CBDC launch, even after the temporary ban expires, while explicitly exempting open, permissionless, and private stablecoins.
The inclusion of a CBDC ban in must-pass housing legislation represents a policy win for crypto advocates, contrasting with global central bank digital currency adoption trends.

Housing package ties supply measures to digital currency limits

As reported by Cointelegraph, the Senate on Monday voted 85-5 to pass the 21st Century Road to Housing Act after House and Senate leaders reached a bipartisan agreement last week to advance the legislation. The bill aims to increase housing supply, while preserving a provision first included in the Senate version passed in March that bars the Fed, directly or indirectly, from issuing a central bank digital currency or any substantially similar digital asset.

The CBDC restriction is part of a broader political compromise designed to secure support from House Republicans and the administration for faster movement of the housing package. The bill also states that even after the 2030 ban expires, the Fed still cannot proceed with a CBDC without explicit authorization from Congress.

The language creates an exception for stablecoins, describing them as dollar-denominated currencies that are open, permissionless and private. That carve-out distinguishes private digital dollar alternatives from a government-backed digital currency framework.

Crypto policy implications and global backdrop

For crypto advocates, the measure marks a notable policy win after years of criticism that a CBDC could expand central bank control over digital money. Republicans have repeatedly pushed to prohibit such a system, and the inclusion of the ban in a must-pass housing measure improves its chances of becoming law.

While the U.S. debate remains tied to congressional approval, other countries continue to move ahead with their own digital currency plans. Reuters reported on June 16 that China added 26 financial institutions to its digital yuan cross-border payment platform, while Atlantic Council data shows three countries have officially launched a CBDC, 41 are in pilot programs, 33 are in development and 40 remain in research stages.

Our earlier coverage of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act explained how the U.S. Senate advanced a broad bipartisan housing package intended to expand home supply and ease affordability pressures nationwide. We highlighted measures to cut regulatory barriers, steer incentives toward jurisdictions that build more housing, and improve access to mortgage financing—particularly through provisions supporting community banks and first-time buyers.

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