TLDR
- U.S. House sets record with a historic 10-hour vote on crypto bills.
- CLARITY Act aims to clarify crypto asset classification for regulatory bodies.
- The GENIUS Act promotes digital asset innovation and blockchain tech.
- Anti-CBDC provisions added to CLARITY Act to ensure privacy protection
The U.S. House of Representatives has made a significant step toward digital asset regulation. On Wednesday, lawmakers advanced the CLARITY and GENIUS Acts after holding the longest vote in congressional history, lasting nearly 10 hours. The vote, which ended in a narrow 217-212 decision, followed intense behind-the-scenes negotiations, particularly regarding provisions related to Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs).
CLARITY Act and GENIUS Act Break the Deadlock
The CLARITY Act and GENIUS Act are crucial for the future of cryptocurrency regulation in the U.S. The CLARITY Act, introduced by Rep. G.T. Thompson, aims to clarify the classification of digital assets, determining whether they should be treated as securities or commodities. This will decide whether the SEC or CFTC oversees various sectors of the crypto market.
Reporter Eleanor Terrett confirmed that the House narrowly passed the procedural rule by a 217-212 margin. This step sets the stage for full votes on the CLARITY Act, GENIUS Act, and other measures, including defense spending.
The drawn-out process involved intense behind-the-scenes negotiations, with several Republican holdouts changing their stance after meeting with President Trump.
🚨NEW: Vote has passed 217-212 and the House has now advanced the rule setting up floor votes on crypto, defense spending and other measures tomorrow.
So, when all was said and done, crypto was the reason the House broke the record for the longest vote in history — nearly 10…
— Eleanor Terrett (@EleanorTerrett) July 17, 2025
These lawmakers secured a commitment to include strong anti-CBDC language in the CLARITY Act, addressing concerns over federal overreach. While the GENIUS Act remains unchanged, this agreement was enough to win over hesitant lawmakers and move the bills forward.
U.S. House Sets Record for Longest Vote
The U.S. House of Representatives made history with its longest vote ever, which lasted from 1:19 p.m. ET to 11:04 p.m. ET. The procedural vote for the CLARITY and GENIUS Acts, critical crypto legislation, faced delays due to internal disagreements within the Republican ranks.
The delay underscored the high stakes surrounding the bills and the intense behind-the-scenes negotiations that took place.
Despite the extended voting period, the House ultimately advanced the crypto bills to their final floor votes. The procedural vote followed a motion to reconsider the bills, which had failed the previous day due to internal Republican divisions.
Lawmakers, including Representative Bryan Steil, expressed their excitement as the crypto legislation moved forward, with crypto advocates looking ahead to the potential “golden age” of regulated digital assets.
The behind-the-scenes discussions with President Donald Trump played a pivotal role in securing enough votes from Republican factions, clearing the way for the bills’ passage. Final votes on both bills are expected soon.
Controversy Over CBDC Provisions
One of the key sticking points during the negotiations was the provision related to CBDCs. Many Republicans, along with members of the public, are concerned that the creation of a government-issued digital currency could lead to increased surveillance of personal spending.
These concerns led to the inclusion of strong anti-CBDC language in the CLARITY Act, following a promise from Republican leadership to add such provisions.
The Anti-CBDC Surveillance Act, introduced by Rep. Tom Emmer, would block the Federal Reserve from issuing a central bank digital currency. This provision aims to protect the privacy of American citizens and prevent federal overreach.
After discussions with President Trump, several lawmakers who had initially opposed the bills agreed to support them, provided the anti-CBDC measures were included.Despite the inclusion of the anti-CBDC language, the GENIUS Act itself remains unchanged.
This has led to some frustration among House Financial Services Committee members who were hoping for further amendments.However, the addition of the anti-CBDC language in the CLARITY Act proved to be a sufficient compromise to push the bills forward.
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