U.S. House officially approves CLARITY, GENIUS, and Anti-CBDC Acts

The House passed three major crypto bills on Thursday, locking in a rare legislative win for the industry. In what’s now the biggest regulatory overhaul for crypto so far, lawmakers voted on the GENIUS Act, the CLARITY Act, and the CBDC Anti-Surveillance State Act.

The votes came after months of lobbying and internal fights between Democrats over how to approach crypto regulation heading into 2025.

The GENIUS Act, which had already cleared the Senate, got a final vote of 308-122 in the House. That bill sets rules for stablecoins and is now headed straight to President Donald Trump’s desk.

More than 100 Democrats backed the bill, including Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, joining most Republicans in a rare moment of bipartisan agreement. The goal is to treat crypto more like real money, giving companies the regulatory clarity they’ve been demanding for years.

House sends GENIUS and CLARITY bills to Trump

Right after that, the House passed the CLARITY Act with a 294-134 vote. This bill is much broader, outlining how crypto firms should register, disclose information, and follow financial rules across different agencies. Seventy-eight Democrats crossed over to back the legislation alongside Republicans.

Nancy Pelosi and Pete Aguilar both voted in favor, but Jeffries didn’t. He rejected the CLARITY Act, even though he had supported GENIUS minutes earlier.

There was pushback. Maxine Waters, top Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee, warned the bills could trigger financial instability and give President Trump a chance to exploit gaps in the system. She said the crypto-friendly rules could “enable corruption,” and questioned whether any of it was designed to protect the economy at all.

The Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act was also passed. That bill blocks the Federal Reserve from creating or piloting any kind of central bank digital currency (CBDC) unless Congress gives the green light.

Most Republicans supported it overwhelmingly, saying they don’t want programmable money that lets the government track or control individual transactions.

Emmer restricts Fed’s CBDC powers, while Trump’s health raises risk for reversal

Tom Emmer, the Minnesota Republican who introduced the bill, added strict rules to make sure no loopholes exist. The legislation says the Federal Reserve can’t “offer products or services directly to an individual,” can’t “maintain an account on behalf of an individual,” and can’t use any renamed version of a CBDC. It also blocks the Fed from using any central bank digital currency to carry out monetary policy. In short, no CBDC, no pilot programs, no technical workarounds.

Crypto czar David Sacks praised the House’s votes on X, saying, “Massive wins for crypto in the House: GENIUS Act passes 307-122. CLARITY Act passes 294-134.” The post quickly went viral in crypto circles as the numbers confirmed a landslide.

Billy Hagerty, the Senator who originally introduced the GENIUS Act, said the law would update America’s payment systems and boost demand for U.S. Treasuries, adding that it would help make the country the “crypto capital of the world.”

Paul Atkins, the pro-crypto SEC chair, said he supports the GENIUS Act because it provides “clear rules of the road” for the industry. He said the law would cut transaction costs, increase speed, and reduce risk, while keeping essential protections in place. Atkins also said this marks a turning point for the U.S. to become a global leader in blockchain tech, not just traditional finance.

Meanwhile, the White House confirmed that President Trump is dealing with a chronic vein condition after people noticed bruises on his hand. Karoline Leavitt, his press secretary, said Trump had experienced leg swelling and underwent a “comprehensive exam” including a vascular study. If his condition worsens, any or all of the crypto bills could be reversed, just like Trump did to many of Joe Biden’s past policies when he took office.

Not everyone is convinced these new laws are safe. Elizabeth Warren, who has been against the crypto industry for nearly a decade, repeated that the bills could wreck the economy if they’re not backed by tough oversight. She added that she doesn’t want to see laws written by “crypto industry lobbyists” getting passed, and she called the current versions “very weak regulation.”

“They also don’t put enough safeguards in place for consumer protection,” Elizabeth said. “And guardrails to make sure that crypto isn’t used to blow up our entire economy. So I’m very worried about that.”

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