A significant legislative move in the U.S. Senate seeks to block the creation of a central bank digital currency (CBDC) by the Federal Reserve for several years. An amendment to the "21st Century ROAD to Housing Act" (HR 6644) proposes a ban on the Fed issuing a CBDC or any substantially similar digital asset until December 31, 2030.
The proposed legislation, released by the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, explicitly states that the Federal Reserve Board or any Reserve bank "may not issue or create a central bank digital currency... directly or indirectly through a financial institution or other intermediary." The bill includes a critical exception for stablecoins, preserving the ability for "dollar-denominated currency that is open, permissionless, and private" to operate.
The White House has voiced support for the Act, aligning with concerns that a CBDC could "pose significant threats to personal privacy and liberty." The Senate advanced the bill on a procedural cloture vote of 84-6, clearing the path for full floor consideration.
This effort is not the first attempt to prevent a U.S. CBDC. It revives language from prior failed bills, including Senator Mike Lee's "No CBDC Act" from February 2025 and Congressman Tom Emmer's "Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act," which passed the House in July 2025 but awaits Senate approval.
Globally, the development of CBDCs continues apace. According to the Atlantic Council, only Nigeria, Jamaica, and The Bahamas have fully deployed a CBDC. However, 49 nations, including major economies like China, Russia, India, and Brazil, are actively testing their own digital currencies. This U.S. legislative push stands in contrast to the pilot phase underway in the European Union, where benefits have been touted by officials like Germany's central bank president.
