Catenaa, Thursday, July 17, 2025-The U.S. House of Representatives hit another roadblock Wednesday as a second procedural vote on key cryptocurrency legislation was left in limbo, derailed by Republican infighting over language related to central bank digital currencies (CBDCs).
The delay follows an earlier procedural victory to advance three bills during what GOP leaders have dubbed “Crypto Week,” including the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act, a measure poised to head to President Donald Trump’s desk by week’s end.
But momentum sputtered just hours later. Lawmakers failed to close the second procedural vote as members of the House Freedom Caucus demanded stronger anti-CBDC provisions be embedded in the broader Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, a bill that would establish clear regulatory jurisdiction over digital assets.
“This is a total mess,” one source familiar with the proceedings told The Block. “It’s not what anyone expected.”
Conservatives, including Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) and Chip Roy (R-Texas), want to ensure the Federal Reserve cannot issue a digital dollar directly to consumers. The Fed has been studying a CBDC since 2022 but insists it would not proceed without congressional approval.
Despite a brief shift in support earlier Wednesday, Rep. Roy left the House floor after voting no, casting doubt on an agreement that “doesn’t appear to exist anymore,” according to Punchbowl News.
President Trump had earlier signaled that key holdouts were on board, but the GOP rift now threatens the timeline of the landmark legislation.
