The U.S. Senate has vetoed the digital dollar: CBDC banned until 2030
The American legislative process delivered a surprise to the crypto community: the U.S. Senate approved the sweeping housing bill 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which, in addition to addressing housing affordability issues, contains a direct ban on the issuance of a central bank digital currency (CBDC). The voting results are telling — 85 senators voted in favor, with only 5 votes against.
Housing Crisis as a Tool to Block CBDC
The main goal of the document is to increase the housing supply in the U.S. and lower prices by limiting the influence of large corporate landlords. However, the key point for the crypto industry is a direct ban on the Federal Reserve System (Fed) and federal reserve banks from issuing or creating CBDCs, as well as any digital assets "substantially similar" to such a currency. The ban is in effect until December 31, 2030. An important exception is made for dollar-pegged stablecoins: they remain permitted, do not require approval, and stay within the private sector.
Linking the anti-CBDC provision to the housing bill is not a coincidence but a common legislative practice where non-core initiatives are "attached" to must-pass documents. Republicans in the House of Representatives particularly insisted on including this provision, as they have long opposed the digital dollar, viewing it as a threat to privacy and a tool for total financial control by the state. As noted by House Financial Services Committee Chairman French Hill, housing affordability begins with supply, and this law takes a "significant step toward building new homes and reducing costs for American families."
What's Next? Political Consensus Against CBDC
The document now heads to a vote in the House of Representatives, after which it will be sent to the president for signature. According to available information, Republican leaders in the House plan to hold an expedited vote immediately after returning from recess on June 23. The Donald Trump administration has taken a firm stance against CBDC: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently confirmed that the central bank digital currency is "definitively off the agenda," with the government's main efforts focused on advancing a dedicated digital assets law — the Clarity Act. Notably, Fed Chair Kevin Warsh has also previously stated his complete opposition to such an initiative.
While the U.S. is putting up a barrier to CBDC, other countries continue to move forward: the European Central Bank is preparing a pilot for the digital euro next year. This creates an interesting precedent — the U.S. risks falling behind in the digital currency race, but on the other hand, it sends a clear signal to the market: private stablecoins and decentralized finance remain a priority here.
Expert opinion: The ban on CBDC until 2030 is not just a tactical move but a strategic choice in favor of market competition and privacy. For the crypto market, this is a positive signal: the regulatory environment in the U.S. is increasingly leaning toward supporting stablecoins and DeFi, rather than government control through CBDC. However, investors should keep an eye on developments in the EU and China — falling behind in the digitalization of fiat currencies could have long-term macroeconomic consequences.