-
Senate housing bill bars Fed from issuing or facilitating a retail CBDC, including similar digital assets, until 2030.
-
Measure passed 84–6 after late insertion, formalizing limits despite prior Fed stance requiring Congress approval.
-
U.S. pauses digital dollar plans as China and Europe advance CBDC efforts and stablecoins dominate payments.
A long-dormant ban on a U.S. central bank digital currency resurfaced in Congress this week through an unexpected legislative route. According to Eleanor Terrett, the provision appeared in the Senate Banking Committee’s 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, released minutes before a vote. The measure restricts the Federal Reserve from issuing a retail CBDC through 2030.
CBDC Language Inserted Into Bipartisan Housing Vote
The amendment bars the Federal Reserve from issuing or facilitating a retail CBDC, directly or through intermediaries. Notably, the language also blocks “substantially similar” digital assets. The restriction sunsets on December 31, 2030.
The provision did not appear in last year’s National Defense Authorization Act, despite earlier efforts by House conservatives. However, lawmakers later inserted it into the housing bill. The Senate passed the measure by an 84–6 vote.
Journalist Burgess Everett noted on X that such margins rarely appear in Senate votes. However, the CBDC language drew little attention within the broader housing package. According to Eleanor Mueller, House Republicans requested the addition during negotiations.
White House Support and Federal Reserve Limits
Although the Federal Reserve has said it would not issue a CBDC without congressional approval, the new language formalizes that restriction. The ban prevents any retail digital dollar initiative until the end of the decade.
Meanwhile, the White House signaled support for the bill. Journalist Brendan Pedersen reported that the administration praised the CBDC restriction in a public statement. The president is expected to sign the legislation.
As a result, the Federal Reserve remains legally constrained, regardless of future policy debates. The wording aims to prevent indirect workarounds through alternative digital instruments.
Global Context and Market Sector
While the United States pauses, other regions continue exploring digital currencies. China continues testing and expanding its digital yuan. Europe is also advancing research through the European Central Bank.
At home, private stablecoins dominate digital payments. USDC and USDT remain widely used across crypto markets. According to investor Ray Dalio, several global economies continue pursuing greater state control through digital currencies.
For now, the U.S. position remains fixed. The housing bill locks federal policy on retail CBDCs until 2030, following a largely unnoticed legislative shift.
Disclaimer: The information on this page may come from third parties and does not represent the views or opinions of Gate. The content displayed on this page is for reference only and does not constitute any financial, investment, or legal advice. Gate does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information and shall not be liable for any losses arising from the use of this information. Virtual asset investments carry high risks and are subject to significant price volatility. You may lose all of your invested principal. Please fully understand the relevant risks and make prudent decisions based on your own financial situation and risk tolerance. For details, please refer to
Disclaimer.
Related Articles
Non-Farm Payroll Preview: The Fed's Rate Cut Dream Shattered, Middle Eastern Conflict Rewriting the Global Interest Rate Script
The U.S. non-farm payroll report for March is about to be released, with the market expecting an increase of around 48,000 jobs. The ongoing conflict in Iran continues to impact oil prices and inflation, pushing the market's expectations from rate cuts to rate hikes. Analysts point out that strong non-farm data could further solidify the consensus on high interest rates, affecting the performance of risk assets.
MarketWhisper18m ago
Gate Daily (March 30): Washington sues Kalshi prediction market; Canada plans to ban cryptocurrency political donations.
Bitcoin prices remain weak, around $66,380 on March 30. The U.S. Kalshi prediction market is facing lawsuits, and Canada plans to ban cryptocurrency political donations entirely to reduce election risks. U.S. stocks have plummeted, with significant declines in tech stocks. Concerns over war and inflation have led to investor pessimism, and future attention must be paid to U.S. stock trends.
MarketWhisper44m ago
Why Is Bitcoin Down Today? The U.S. Extends the Iran War, ETF Outflows Accelerate as Miners Surrender
Bitcoin has fallen below $67,000, with a weekly decline of about 3%, influenced by U.S. military actions against Iran, along with outflows from spot Bitcoin ETFs and the return of interest rate hike expectations in pricing, leading to a fearful market sentiment. Increased miner sell-offs have been noted, but it is pointed out that demand-side expansion confirmation is needed to maintain a bullish outlook.
MarketWhisper1h ago
BTC fell 0.61% in 15 minutes: The net inflow to exchanges and outflow of ETF funds resonated, causing short-term selling pressure.
2026-03-29 22:00 to 22:15 (UTC), the BTC price fell 0.61% over 15 minutes. The price range was 66,230.0 to 66,716.0 USDT, with a volatility of 0.73%. During the period, market fluctuations intensified, attention increased noticeably, and capital flows moved in sync with the downward price trend.
The main drivers of this unusual move are sustained net inflows of large on-chain funds to exchanges and continuous net outflows of ETF funds. From 22:00 to 22:15, major trading platforms’ BTC/USDT trading volume rose by about 30% compared with the prior 15 minutes, and net on-chain inflows were 8,420
GateNews3h ago
Markets move to price in rate hikes as inflation fears and geopolitics reshape Fed expectations
The essay discusses a significant shift in market expectations regarding Federal Reserve monetary policy, with probability favoring rate hikes instead of cuts. This change is attributed to rising inflation fears linked to energy prices amid Middle East tensions. Additionally, while Bitcoin has held steady, it remains underperforming compared to other assets like gold and stocks.
CoinDesk10h ago
“BTC OG Insider Whale” agent: The Easter weekend may be a window to escalate U.S.-Iran conflict; crude oil could break above $120 per barrel
The article analyzes the potential global economic impact of the upcoming conflict between the U.S. and Iran, particularly on the energy market and the debt market. It is expected that during Easter weekend, the U.S. may take action, such as going to war, which would lead to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, soaring oil prices, and a significant contraction in the global bond market. The Federal Reserve, facing the triple pressures of inflation, a banking crisis, and war financing, may adopt a "financial repression" strategy to lower real interest rates. Ultimately, the risks in the bond market are considered a greater hidden danger.
BlockBeatNews14h ago
