House Republicans plan to hold another vote on key crypto bills after delaying a decision on Tuesday. The delay came after some Republican lawmakers refused to move forward unless a direct CBDC ban was added.
House Speaker Mike Johnson confirmed a new vote could happen Wednesday, describing the bills as a shared priority for the White House, Senate, and House. Speaking to Politico, Johnson said the goal is to pass all the crypto bills, but each one must go through separately.
CBDC Ban Demands Stall the GENIUS Act
The hold-up centers around the GENIUS Act, which provides a framework for stablecoin regulation. Some House Republicans, including Andy Biggs, Marjorie Taylor Greene, and Victoria Spartz, said they will not support it unless it includes a clear CBDC ban.
The two other crypto bills are the CLARITY Act, which defines market structure rules for digital assets, and the Anti-CBDC Surveillance Act, which seeks to stop the Federal Reserve from creating a central bank digital currency.
However, Johnson stated the Senate would likely reject the crypto bills if they are bundled. He said, “We have to do them in succession,” indicating they must be handled one at a time to have a chance of passage.
Lawmakers Who Blocked the Vote List Specific Concerns
On Tuesday, 13 Republicans, including House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, voted against a procedural rule that would allow debate on the crypto bills. Others who voted no include:
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Andrew Clyde
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Andy Biggs
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Eli Crane
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Michael Cloud
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Marjorie Taylor Greene
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Andy Harris
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Scott Perry
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Victoria Spartz
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Chip Roy
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Keith Self
Greene posted on X that she rejected the GENIUS Act rule because it lacked a CBDC ban and blocked lawmakers from submitting amendments.
Biggs also raised concerns, saying the current version of the GENIUS Act supports a layered CBDC model and does not protect self-custody. He said,
“House Leadership must allow an open amendment process so Members can freely debate and improve the bill.”
Trump Executive Order Adds Pressure to Include CBDC Ban
In January 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order blocking the Federal Reserve from developing or launching a central bank digital currency. This action has added pressure on lawmakers to ensure the crypto bills, particularly the GENIUS Act, align with that order.
Still, some say the bill already blocks a retail CBDC. Eleanor Terrett, host of Crypto in America, cited a section of the GENIUS Act that says it “shall not be construed as expanding the Fed’s authority to offer services directly to the public.” She explained that this language prohibits tools like digital wallets or personal accounts, which are key parts of a CBDC.
Senate Faced Similar Block Earlier This Year
Caitlin Long, founder and CEO of Custodia Bank, told followers not to worry about the failed first vote. On X, she wrote:
“BEFORE Y’ALL FREAK OUT, don’t forget that the first procedural vote in the Senate on the GENIUS Act failed as well…the second one passed 11 days later.”
The GENIUS Act passed the Senate in June 2025 with bipartisan support, despite an earlier failure in May, when Democrats opposed it due to Trump’s crypto ties.
Speaker Johnson Working to Secure Support
ABC News reported that Speaker Mike Johnson spoke directly with the Republican lawmakers who blocked Tuesday’s vote. He is working to move all three crypto bills forward.
Some Republicans continue to push for merging the GENIUS Act, CLARITY Act, and Anti-CBDC Surveillance Act into one bill.
Johnson explained that this plan goes against the approach already discussed with the White House and Senate. He said, “Some of these guys insist that it needs to be all in one package,” while others support passing the bills one by one.
The House will reconvene Wednesday to resume “legislative business,” which includes the pending vote on the crypto bills.
