House Republicans Advance Crypto Bills Toward Thursday Floor Vote

On a narrow 217–212 vote, the House agreed to debate and vote on the GENIUS Act, the CLARITY Act and an anti-central bank digital currency (CBDC) bill, after initially failing to advance the motion when 13 Republicans sided with Democrats.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) led the successful procedural revote, enabling the final consideration of comprehensive regulation (GENIUS Act), definitional clarity for crypto market products (CLARITY Act) and a prohibition on a Fed-issued digital dollar.

The pivotal revote concluded at 11:04 p.m. ET on July 16, 2025, one day after the initial procedural motion failed. House leaders sought to fulfill President Trump’s directive during “Crypto Week” to pass federal crypto rules before recess.

Conservative holdouts secured a pledge to attach the anti-CBDC provision to the annual National Defense Authorization Act, winning their support.

The GENIUS Act, already approved by the Senate 68–30 in June, would require issuers to maintain full asset backing and public disclosures. The CLARITY Act aims to delineate SEC versus CFTC jurisdiction over digital assets. The anti-CBDC measure seeks to bar a Fed digital dollar.

Following today’s procedural success, the first substantive vote on the GENIUS Act is expected Thursday, with the framework poised to become law upon President Trump’s signature.

House Freedom Caucus member Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.) tweeted he was satisfied that anti-CBDC language would be included in the NDAA, calling it “strong protections for American financial privacy.”

Crypto industry lobbying surged ahead of the vote, with major exchanges and fintech firms backing the bills. In the 2024 election cycle, crypto-aligned PACs spent over $119 million to elect supportive lawmakers.