US Senate Tucks CBDC Ban Into Housing Bill, Sets 2030 Deadline

bitcoinistОпубліковано о 2026-03-03Востаннє оновлено о 2026-03-03

Анотація

The US Senate has included a ban on the Federal Reserve issuing a central bank digital currency (CBDC) in a housing affordability bill. The amendment, part of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, prohibits the Fed from directly or indirectly offering a retail digital dollar to the public. The ban is broad, covering any digital asset functioning as a CBDC, regardless of its name. However, it includes an exception for open, permissionless, and private digital currencies that offer cash-like privacy. The prohibition is set to expire on December 31, 2030, unless Congress renews it. This move reinforces the Fed's existing position that it would not issue a digital currency without explicit congressional approval.

The US Senate has moved to block the Federal Reserve from ever putting a government-issued digital dollar (CBDC) into Americans’ hands — at least for now. The ban is part of a sweeping housing affordability package and comes with an expiration date attached.

A Housing Bill With A Hidden Twist

The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act is mostly about making homes more affordable. But buried in Title X of the bill is a standalone amendment to the Federal Reserve Act that has nothing to do with mortgages or rent.

It targets central bank digital currency — a government-issued, digital form of the US dollar. According to reports, Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott and Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren released the bill text together ahead of a Senate vote, an unusual pairing given how differently the two lawmakers have historically approached financial regulation.

The US Federal Reserve. Image: Richard Sharrocks/Getty Images

The prohibition is sweeping in scope. It bars the Fed from issuing a retail digital dollar not just on its own, but also through banks and other financial middlemen.

Reports say the bill even covers any digital asset that functions like a central bank digital currency under a different name — closing off potential workarounds before they can be tried.

🚨NEW: Remember that CBDC ban that didn’t make it into the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) last year? It’s just resurfaced in @BankingGOP’s 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, released minutes ago.

Specifically, it bans the Fed from directly or indirectly issuing a... pic.twitter.com/tfZd4JX4mq

— Eleanor Terrett (@EleanorTerrett) March 2, 2026

What Counts As A CBDC

The bill spells out exactly what it is targeting. A central bank digital currency, or commonly known as CBDC, under the proposed law, is a dollar-denominated digital asset that is a direct liability of the Federal Reserve and is broadly available to regular consumers.

That definition draws a firm line between a government-issued digital dollar and private-sector options like stablecoins or crypto assets.

BTCUSD trading at $66,673 on the 24-hour chart: TradingView

There is, however, one carved-out exception. Any digital currency that is open, permissionless, and private — and that offers the same privacy protections as physical cash — would not be blocked by the ban.

Reports note this exception appears designed to ensure that private innovation in digital payments is not accidentally swept up in legislation aimed solely at the government.

CBDC: The Clock Is Already Running

The CBDC ban is not meant to last forever. Under the bill’s own terms, the prohibition expires on December 31, 2030. Unless Congress acts again before then, the door to a retail digital dollar reopens automatically.

This sunset clause signals that lawmakers are not permanently opposed to the idea — they just want more time before anything moves forward.

The Federal Reserve has already said publicly that it would not issue a digital dollar without clear authorization from Congress.

So in practical terms, the bill reinforces a position the central bank has already taken. Still, getting that stance written into law carries real weight.

Featured image from The Daily Economy, chart from TradingView

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Пов'язані питання

QWhat is the main purpose of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, and what unrelated amendment does it contain?

AThe main purpose of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act is to make homes more affordable. Buried within it is an unrelated standalone amendment to the Federal Reserve Act that bans the issuance of a retail central bank digital currency (CBDC).

QWho were the two key lawmakers from opposing sides that released the bill text together, and why is this pairing considered unusual?

ABanking Committee Chairman Tim Scott and Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren released the bill text together. This is an unusual pairing because the two lawmakers have historically approached financial regulation very differently.

QAccording to the bill's definition, what specific characteristics make a digital asset a CBDC that would be banned?

AAccording to the bill, a CBDC is a dollar-denominated digital asset that is a direct liability of the Federal Reserve and is broadly available to regular consumers.

QWhat is the one type of digital currency that is explicitly exempted from the ban and why?

AThe ban exempts any digital currency that is open, permissionless, and private, and that offers the same privacy protections as physical cash. This exception is designed to ensure private innovation in digital payments is not accidentally restricted by legislation aimed solely at the government.

QWhen does the CBDC ban expire, and what does this sunset clause indicate about lawmakers' stance?

AThe CBDC ban expires on December 31, 2030. This sunset clause indicates that lawmakers are not permanently opposed to the idea of a digital dollar but want more time before anything moves forward.

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