Congress advances significant crypto legislation, after nine hours of debate and impasse, poised for final approval.
The U.S. House of Representatives has taken a significant step forward in shaping the future of cryptocurrency regulation, as House Resolution 580 (H.Res. 580) was passed with a narrow vote of 217-212 on July 17, 2025. This resolution paves the way for the consideration of key bills, including the Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act, the GENIUS Act, and the CLARITY Act[2][4].
A notable development is the strategic attachment of the Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), a crucial piece of defense legislation that must be passed[2][4]. This move was instrumental in winning over eight conservative Republicans who had initially opposed the resolution, effectively breaking the impasse.
The Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act, now included in the NDAA, aims to restrict central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) and protect Americans' financial privacy. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer emphasised that this move prevents unelected bureaucrats from turning Americans' financial data into a surveillance tool akin to China's[2][4].
With H.Res. 580 passed, the House is now set for floor votes on the three major crypto bills, including the Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act, the GENIUS Act (focused on stablecoin regulation), and the CLARITY Act (addressing digital asset market structure)[2][4].
The GENIUS Act, scheduled for a floor vote on Thursday, could become the first major crypto bill ever signed into law[1]. The CLARITY Act vote may be pushed to early next week.
The passage of H.Res. 580 revives the path forward for these three major crypto bills. Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.) tweeted that the vote is a significant win for the American people as government-controlled digital currency poses a threat to financial privacy and economic freedom[3].
It is important to note that the vote on the rule is not the final vote on the bills themselves. The initial vote on the Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act appeared to succeed at 215-211, but the same Republican holdouts retracted their support and left the House floor for prolonged negotiations with party leadership[1]. Following a previous defeat, President Donald Trump summoned the holdout Republicans to the White House and announced he had convinced them all to support the measure[1].
Steven Goldfeder, CEO of Offchain Labs, expressed optimism, stating that a legislative framework signals to the market that crypto technology is here to stay and deserves real governance[1]. The passage of these bills would mark a significant milestone toward establishing clearer regulatory frameworks for digital currencies in the United States[2][4].
| Legislation | Status as of July 17, 2025 | Relation to NDAA | |------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|----------------------------------| | House Resolution 580 (H.Res. 580) | Passed by House (217-212) | Provides consideration for crypto bills | | Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act | Included and attached to NDAA | Secured passage by NDAA attachment | | GENIUS Act | Pending floor vote after H.Res. 580 pass | Separate from NDAA but part of crypto package | | CLARITY Act | Pending floor vote after H.Res. 580 pass | Separate from NDAA but part of crypto package |
[1] CoinDesk (2025). House Passes Procedural Rule to Advance Crypto Bills, Trump Summons Holdout Republicans. [online] Available at: https://www.coindesk.com/policy/2025/07/16/house-passes-procedural-rule-to-advance-crypto-bills-trump-summons-holdout-republicans/
[2] The Block (2025). House Passes Rule for Three Crypto Bills, Clearing Path for Final Votes. [online] Available at: https://www.theblockcrypto.com/post/124786/house-passes-rule-for-three-crypto-bills-clearing-path-for-final-votes
[3] Rep. Andy Harris (2025). Tweet. [online] Available at: https://twitter.com/RepAndyHarris/status/1678484854522238976
[4] Cointelegraph (2025). U.S. House Passes Resolution to Advance Three Major Crypto Bills. [online] Available at: https://cointelegraph.com/news/us-house-passes-resolution-to-advance-three-major-crypto-bills
- The Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act, now attached to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), aims to restrict Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) and protect Americans' financial privacy, as it potentially turns Americans' financial data into a surveillance tool like China's.
- The GENIUS Act, scheduled for a floor vote on Thursday, could become the first major crypto bill ever signed into law, focusing on stablecoin regulation in the digital currency market.
- Following the passing of House Resolution 580, the House is now set for floor votes on three major crypto bills, including the Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act, the GENIUS Act, and the CLARITY Act, addressing digital asset market structure.
- The passage of these bills could signal to the market that crypto technology is here to stay and deserves real governance, indicating a significant milestone toward establishing clearer regulatory frameworks for digital currencies in the United States. Additionally, policy-and-legislation around digital currencies will continue to be a topic of general-news interest as the crypto market evolves.
