The latest version of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, released on 16 Jun, includes a provision barring the Federal Reserve from issuing a retail central bank digital currency (CBDC) – a government-backed digital version of the US dollar for everyday use – until the end of 2030. It would mark the first time a CBDC prohibition has been written into US law.
US Housing Bill Enshrines Temporary CBDC Pause Until 2030
17 June 2026 - 13:00 CEST
By Isabelle Castro
Tucked into Section 1101, the measure also allows for a dollar-denominated digital currency that is "open, permissionless, and private," preserving the privacy protections of physical cash.
First legislative action on CBDC
The provision comes after years of fierce opposition to a US digital dollar. President Donald Trump’s executive order in January 2025 halted federal CBDC work, but lawmakers have pushed for stronger legislative protection. A standalone bill led by Representative Tom Emmer, the Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act, passed the House in July 2025 but has stalled in the Senate.
The temporary ban in the housing bill is the first legislative measure on CBDC development to advance this far in Congress.
Opposition demands permanence
Anti-CBDC hardliners have criticised the temporary nature of the pause. The ban includes a sunset clause ending on 31 Dec 2030, after which development could resume, although any issuance would still require separate Congressional approval.
Thirty-two House Republicans signed a letter on 6 Mar urging House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune to remove the sunset clause and block even studies of a digital dollar. Senator Ted Cruz submitted an amendment to strike the expiry date.
For stablecoin issuers such as Circle (USDC) and Tether (USDT), the multi-year pause removes a potential state-backed competitor.
The Act is now awaiting final agreement on the text before it can reach the president’s desk.
