After a dramatic 24 hours on Capitol Hill, the U.S. House of Representatives has voted to advance three landmark crypto bills: the GENIUS Act, the CLARITY Act, and the Anti-CBDC Act, following a failed vote the day before. The move marks a crucial, though still incomplete, step forward during what lawmakers have dubbed “Crypto Week.”
The House passed a procedural rule vote on Wednesday, July 16, with a narrow 215–211 margin. While this does not mean the bills have become law, it does allow the legislation to move to the next stage: formal debate and potential final passage later today or tomorrow.
Here’s how we got here, what the vote means, and what comes next for U.S. crypto policy.
What Happened in the House Vote
The House voted on what’s known as a “rule vote” which is a procedural motion that governs whether and how a bill can be considered on the floor. On Tuesday, that rule failed to pass, effectively halting the legislative process for the GENIUS Act, CLARITY Act, and Anti-CBDC Act. But following high-level intervention from President Donald Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson, Republican leadership was able to rally enough support to bring the rule back for reconsideration.
On the second attempt, the motion succeeded by a slim margin, reviving the bills and allowing them to proceed to formal debate.
As of 1:33 p.m. ET on Wednesday, July 16, none of the bills have been enacted, but they are now back on track for potential final votes that could come as soon as later today.
Why the First Vote Failed
The rule vote on Tuesday failed by a 196–223 margin, with 13 Republican members joining Democrats in opposition. Their reasons varied, but two major themes emerged:
- CBDC Opposition: Hardline Republicans, particularly members of the Freedom Caucus, criticized the GENIUS Act for not including a full ban on central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), something they view as essential to protecting civil liberties.
- Bundling Strategy: GOP leadership’s decision to bundle all three bills into a single rule drew criticism. Dissenters argued it limited their ability to evaluate each measure independently and forced them into an all-or-nothing vote.
On the Democratic side, opposition stemmed from concerns over consumer protections, lack of regulatory clarity, and the perception that the bills would benefit crypto insiders more than the public.
Trump’s Late-Night Intervention
The turnaround came after President Donald Trump personally met with 11 of the 12 GOP holdouts late Tuesday night. Trump announced on Truth Social shortly after:
“I am in the Oval Office with 11 of the 12 Congressmen/women necessary to pass the GENIUS Act and, after a short discussion, they have all agreed to vote tomorrow morning in favor of the Rule.”
Trump framed the bills as vital to America’s digital financial leadership, saying,
“Digital Assets are the FUTURE… and we are lightyears ahead of China, Europe, and all others!”
Speaker Mike Johnson joined the meeting via phone and publicly thanked Trump for brokering the deal. Their combined efforts appear to have secured just enough support to push the rule through on the second try.
BREAKING: #Bitcoin and crypto bills – GENIUS Act, Anti-CBDC ACT, and CLARITY Act – JUST PASSED PROCEDURAL VOTING
— The Bitcoin Historian (@pete_rizzo_) July 16, 2025
ONE STEP CLOSER TO LAW. HUGE 🔥 pic.twitter.com/b9V54mxRVx
What Is a Rule Vote and Why Does It Matter?
A rule vote is a unique procedural step in the U.S. House of Representatives. Before major legislation can be debated or amended, the House must adopt a special rule resolution crafted by the House Committee on Rules.
This rule determines:
- How long the bill will be debated
- Whether amendments can be introduced
- Whether the legislation will be considered individually or bundled
If the rule fails, the bill is frozen. If the rule passes as it did today, the bill can move forward to formal debate and, eventually, a final up-or-down vote. Today’s successful rule vote was therefore not the end, but a critical step forward.
What the Bills Would Do
If ultimately passed by the House and signed into law, the three bills would represent the most comprehensive federal crypto legislation ever enacted:
- GENIUS Act: A bipartisan Senate-passed bill that creates a national regulatory framework for stablecoins, including licensing requirements, reserve backing, and oversight by federal agencies.
- CLARITY Act: A market structure bill that delineates regulatory responsibilities between the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), clarifying whether crypto tokens are treated as securities or commodities.
- Anti-CBDC Act: A measure to prohibit the Federal Reserve from issuing a U.S. central bank digital currency, responding to privacy concerns and fears of government surveillance.
Although these bills have strong backing from the Republican majority and industry groups, Democrats remain deeply skeptical—particularly about the Anti-CBDC Act, which they view as a solution in search of a problem.
What Happens Next
With the rule now adopted, all three bills are scheduled for floor debate and final votes which could come as early as this evening or tomorrow. Lawmakers will have the opportunity to argue for or against each bill, offer limited amendments, and ultimately decide whether to pass them to the Senate (for the CLARITY and Anti-CBDC Acts) or to the President (for the GENIUS Act, which already cleared the Senate).
If passed:
- The GENIUS Act would go directly to President Trump’s desk for signing.
- The CLARITY Act and Anti-CBDC Act would move to the Senate, where their fate remains uncertain but not impossible, particularly with growing bipartisan interest in crypto regulation.
Why This Matters for Crypto in the U.S.
This moment is pivotal. The passage of these bills would mark the first time Congress has laid down a national framework for digital asset markets, something the industry has been demanding for years. It would also send a strong message that the U.S. is ready to compete with Europe, China, and other jurisdictions that have already implemented crypto regulations.
But failure to pass final votes could fracture the GOP’s momentum and leave U.S. policy in limbo yet again.
Trump, sensing the stakes, has tied these bills closely to his campaign narrative about American innovation and economic leadership. He’s made clear that signing them into law is a top priority.
Final Thoughts
The U.S. House has not yet passed the GENIUS Act, CLARITY Act, or Anti-CBDC Act but after a failed start, lawmakers now have a second chance. Today’s successful procedural rule vote is the green light for formal debate, and the coming hours could decide whether Congress finally delivers clear rules for the crypto industry or once again misses its moment.
With final votes expected soon, the eyes of the global crypto community are now locked on Washington.
