US House Passes Three Major Crypto Bills Before Recess
Key Takeaways
Bipartisan Support for Crypto Regulation: The House approved the CLARITY Act (294-134), GENIUS Act (308-122), and Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act (219-210), signalling growing bipartisan interest in establishing clear digital asset regulations.
Focus on Market Structure and Stablecoins: The bills aim to define crypto market structure, create national standards for stablecoins, and limit government overreach via central bank digital currencies.
Senate Action Still Needed: While passage in the House is a significant step, the bills must still clear the Senate to become law, leaving the future of US crypto regulation uncertain.
In a significant step for digital asset regulation, the US House of Representatives passed three significant cryptocurrency-related bills ahead of its August recess.
Overview
During a House session on Thursday, lawmakers approved three major crypto-related bills: the Digital Asset Market Clarity (CLARITY) Act passed with a 294-134 vote, aiming to define a regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies; the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for US Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act was passed with a 308-122 vote, focusing on setting national standards for stablecoin issuance; and the Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act narrowly passed with a 219-210 vote, targeting restrictions on a potential US central bank digital currency.
Before the vote, California Representative Maxine Waters called for all Democrats to oppose the three bills. Waters said, “
The Republican crypto bills we will consider will create giant loopholes in our federal financial laws that put consumers and investors at risk, in the name of innovation.”
He added,
“This bill would increase the chance of another costly financial crisis, like the one in 2008 that led to trillions of dollars of wealth being wiped out, in the name of innovation.”
The legislative push underscores growing bipartisan interest in shaping a regulatory framework for the fast-evolving crypto industry. The three bills — the Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act (FIT21), the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act, and the Clarity for Payment Stablecoins Act — aim to provide clarity for market participants, strengthen consumer protections, and encourage innovation within the United States.
While none of the bills have cleared the Senate yet, their passage in the House strongly signals that Washington is getting more serious about regulating the crypto sector amid growing investor demand and increased institutional involvement.
A Breakdown of the Three Crypto Bills
The FIT21 Act, also known as the Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act, is the centrepiece of the package. It lays the groundwork for defining the regulatory roles of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in overseeing crypto assets. Specifically, the bill seeks to classify digital tokens based on the level of decentralisation and establish clear guidelines for when a token falls under the SEC’s purview as a security or the CFTC’s as a commodity.
By doing so, the legislation aims to reduce the regulatory uncertainty that has long plagued the industry. Next is the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act, which received broad bipartisan support. This bill protects blockchain developers and non-custodial service providers from unnecessary regulatory burdens. It ensures that entities merely validating blockchain transactions or offering infrastructure services without custody of user funds are not treated as money transmitters.
This is particularly important for developers and startups in the Web3 space, where innovation often outpaces existing financial laws. The third bill, the Clarity for Payment Stablecoins Act, addresses one of the most debated areas in crypto — stablecoins. It creates a federal framework for issuing and regulating payment stablecoins, allowing individual states to maintain oversight roles. This hybrid approach balances national standards with state-level innovation to safeguard consumers while preserving the flexibility for fintech companies to grow.
What This Means for the Future of Crypto in the US
The passage of these three bills marks a turning point in how Congress approaches crypto and blockchain technology. While these measures still need to be approved by the Senate and signed into law by the President, their advancement signals momentum for more structured oversight of the digital asset sector. Industry leaders and advocacy groups have welcomed the move, noting that regulatory clarity is essential for long-term investment and innovation in the US. However, challenges remain.
The Senate has been more cautious about crypto legislation, and political disagreements could delay further progress. Still, the House’s efforts have helped move the conversation forward and created a foundation for bipartisan cooperation on crypto rules. Some lawmakers have already called for the Senate to prioritise these bills when Congress reconvenes in September.
These laws could significantly shift the regulatory landscape by providing businesses with a more precise compliance roadmap and giving regulators the tools to enforce safeguards without stifling innovation. In a time when other countries are advancing their crypto frameworks, the US’s move to formalise its regulatory approach may help the country maintain its leadership in global financial innovation.
As the crypto industry continues to grow, the decisions made in Washington over the coming months will be crucial in shaping how — and where — digital assets thrive in the years to come.