Bipartisan US Senate Housing Bill Includes Provision to Block Digital Dollar Until 2030

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Summary

  • A bipartisan housing bill in the US Senate features an amendment prohibiting the Federal Reserve from launching a CBDC until the end of 2030.
  • The legislation was co-sponsored by Senate Banking Committee leaders Tim Scott and Elizabeth Warren.
  • The Biden administration expressed support for the measure, specifically endorsing the CBDC moratorium due to concerns over civil liberties and privacy.
  • The bill advanced toward a full Senate vote following a successful 84–6 procedural cloture motion.
  • Private stablecoins that maintain anonymity and open access are not subject to this prohibition.

A legislative package focused on US housing reform has incorporated a clause that would prevent the Federal Reserve from creating a central bank digital currency (CBDC) through 2030.

Known as the “21st Century ROAD to Housing Act,” the bill was presented Monday by Senators Tim Scott and Elizabeth Warren. The section regarding the CBDC ban occupies two pages within the 303-page document.

The measure cleared a significant hurdle with an 84–6 cloture vote, indicating strong bipartisan backing as it moves toward a final Senate debate.

The White House released a statement in favor of the bill, highlighting the CBDC restriction as a necessary step to protect personal liberty and privacy from potential digital dollar risks.

Under this provision, the Federal Reserve and its regional banks are barred from issuing a CBDC either directly or through third-party financial institutions. This restriction is scheduled to expire on December 31, 2030.

To prolong the ban beyond that date, Congress would be required to pass subsequent legislation.

Scope of the Restriction

The bill provides a specific exemption for stablecoins. Digital assets pegged to the dollar that function like physical cash—being private, permissionless, and open—remain permitted.

In their public remarks, neither Scott nor Warren addressed the CBDC clause, choosing instead to emphasize regulatory changes and housing costs.

History of CBDC Legislation

This represents the latest in a series of congressional efforts to halt a digital dollar. A previous attempt, Senator Mike Lee’s “No CBDC Act” from February 2025, failed to gain momentum.

Additionally, Congressman Tom Emmer’s “Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act” passed the House in July 2025 but has yet to be approved by the Senate.

The current housing legislation adopts the language from those earlier efforts, embedding it into a bill with broader political appeal.

On the international stage, only Jamaica, Nigeria, and The Bahamas have fully implemented CBDCs. Meanwhile, 49 other countries, including major economies like India, Brazil, China, and Russia, are in various testing phases.

The European Union is currently conducting pilots, and the head of Germany’s central bank recently voiced support for a digital euro.

The ROAD to Housing Act is now set for a full vote in the Senate, with the CBDC moratorium intact.