CLARITY Bill Faces Delay in Crypto Week: What It Means for the Anti‑CBDC Clause
A last-minute hold-up has hit the CLARITY Act — part of the broader “Crypto Week” push — bringing uncertainty to efforts to curb a potential U.S. CBDC.
Here’s What’s Going On:
The CLARITY Act (H.R. 3633) aims to clarify oversight between the SEC and CFTC, while the Anti‑CBDC Act (H.R. 1919) seeks to explicitly ban a central bank digital currency. However, including the anti‑CBDC language in CLARITY is now stalling progress .
Some Republicans and Democrats are resistant to bundling the CBDC prohibition into CLARITY, fearing delays or the need to re-pass in the Senate .
🏛️ Crypto Week Procedural Moves:
A procedural vote to advance the package (CLARITY + GENIUS + Anti‑CBDC) initially failed due to objections over CBDC language .
After Trump’s intervention, the House retook the vote and approved advancing the bills — but the CBDC clause remains a sticking point .
Why It Matters:
Delaying CBDC language signals deep divisions: reformers want strong privacy protections, while critics worry bundling could force extensive renegotiations .
Final passage now depends on separating or properly merging the bills — attempting to progress without compromising either regulatory clarity or the outright ban on a Fed-backed digital dollar.
What to Watch Next:
1. Will the anti‑CBDC clause move separately? Lawmakers might next attach it to another must-pass bill.
2. CLARITY’s timeline: With the August recess approaching, legislators may accelerate its vote — sans or with redefined CBDC language.
3. Market reaction: A clean CLARITY vote could boost crypto sentiment — but adding CBDC provisions might spark renewed hesitation.
Takeaway: The CLARITY Act isn’t dead, but its path forward is tangled in CBDC politics. Final clarity — both regulatory and semantic — is essential to build investor confidence in U.S. crypto policy.
