đ Crypto Week Makes History: House Greenlights GENIUS & CLARITY Acts in Landmark Decision
Washington just handed crypto its biggest regulatory win yetâWall Street's gonna need a new playbook.
The Breakdown: Two bills just bulldozed through Congress, setting the stage for a crypto gold rush. The GENIUS Act slashes red tape for blockchain startups, while CLARITY finally draws lines in the sand for stablecoins. TradFi lobbyists? Spotted hyperventilating into their silk handkerchiefs.
Why it matters: This isn't just policyâit's a flashing green light for institutional money. Exchanges are already retooling compliance teams, and VCs are uncorking the champagne (again). Meanwhile, SEC Chair Gary Gensler reportedly muttering 'I'll get you next time' into his kale smoothie.
The kicker: Banks now face their Kodak momentâadapt or watch crypto eat their lunch. And for once, Congress moved faster than a Bitcoin transaction during peak congestion.
TLDR
- US House passes three crypto bills: CLARITY Act (294-134), GENIUS Act (308-122), and Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act (219-210)
- GENIUS Act heads directly to President Trump for signature as it already passed the Senate 68-30 in June
- CLARITY Act moves to Senate for debate and possible amendments before returning to House or president
- Nearly 80 Democrats supported CLARITY Act and over 100 backed GENIUS Act, showing bipartisan support
- Anti-CBDC bill received least Democratic support and may be attached to National Defense Authorization Act
The US House of Representatives passed three crypto bills on Thursday, marking a turning point for digital asset regulation in America. The votes came during what Republicans called âcrypto weekâ as lawmakers rushed to meet President Trumpâs August deadline.
I just signed the landmark legislation passed today by House Republicans to strengthen American crypto innovation.
The CLARITY Act, GENIUS Act, and Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act deliver on President Trumpâs vision to make crypto a Core pillar of the U.S. economy and ensure⌠pic.twitter.com/rnJgq3KaV2
â Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) July 17, 2025
The Digital Asset Market Clarity Act passed with strong bipartisan support, receiving 294 votes in favor and 134 against. Nearly 80 Democrats joined Republicans to support the bill, which aims to establish clear market structure rules for cryptocurrencies.
The Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for US Stablecoins Act, known as GENIUS, received even broader support with 308 votes in favor and 122 against. More than 100 Democrats backed this legislation, which will regulate stablecoin issuers like Tether and Circle.
The Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act passed along mostly party lines with 219 votes in favor and 210 against. Only two Democrats supported this bill, which aims to ban the development of a central bank digital currency in the US.
Path to Presidential Signature
The GENIUS Act now heads directly to President Trumpâs desk for signature. The bill already passed the Senate 68-30 in June, meaning it requires no further congressional action.
Trump reportedly plans to sign the GENIUS Act by Friday, assuming no amendments are needed. This WOULD make it the first major crypto law in US history.
The CLARITY Act faces a longer journey through the legislative process. It must now go to the Senate for debate and possible amendments before returning to the House or reaching the president.
Senate Timeline and Expectations
Senator Tim Scott, chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, wants the Senate to complete market structure legislation by September 30. He called the Houseâs work a âstrong templateâ for Senate action.
Industry lobbyists focused closely on the level of Democratic support for the bills. They view this bipartisan backing as key to pressuring the Senate to act quickly.
The Anti-CBDC bill may be attached to the National Defense Authorization Act. Senate leaders believe it lacks sufficient bipartisan support to pass as standalone legislation.
Democratic Opposition and Concerns
California Representative Maxine Waters led Democratic opposition to the bills. She organized an âanti-crypto corruption weekâ press conference to counter Republican messaging.
Waters warned that the bills would âcreate giant loopholes in our federal financial laws that put consumers and investors at risk.â She compared the potential risks to the 2008 financial crisis.
Democrats raised concerns about conflicts of interest related to Trumpâs personal stake in the crypto industry. They argue his financial involvement makes his policy influence inappropriate.
Industry Response and Next Steps
The Blockchain Association and other industry groups praised the passage of all three bills. They called it a âwinâ for the crypto sector after years of regulatory uncertainty.
Former CFTC member Summer Mersinger said the Anti-CBDC vote showed support for âprivacy, market competition, and individual financial freedom.â Industry leaders view the legislation as protecting against government overreach.
The votes represent a sharp turnaround from recent years when crypto legislation stalled in Congress. Regulators and lawmakers had previously shown resistance to comprehensive digital asset frameworks.
With the GENIUS Act heading to Trumpâs desk, regulators can begin establishing rules for stablecoin issuers. The market is currently dominated by Tetherâs USDT and Circleâs USDC but has attracted interest from traditional financial institutions.