U.S. Congress Blocks Central Bank Digital Dollar Until 2030

The U.S. Senate and House have passed the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, a measure that temporarily bars the Federal Reserve from issuing a central bank digital currency (CBDC) until at least 2030. The Senate approved the bill on June 22, 2026, by an 85‑5 vote and the House followed on June 23 with a 358‑32 margin. Lawmakers cited privacy, oversight and surveillance concerns, while emphasizing support for private‑sector digital payment innovations such as stablecoins. Statements from Congresswoman Maxine Waters and Fed nominee Kevin Warsh underscored opposition to a government‑issued digital dollar.

At the same time, ongoing Senate debate on stablecoin regulation has highlighted the regulatory distinction between stablecoins and tokenized deposits—digital representations of traditional bank deposits. The discussion notes that tokenized deposits remain under existing banking frameworks, giving them a regulatory advantage. Recent initiatives from JPMorgan, Citi, BNY Mellon and The Clearing House aim to expand multi‑bank tokenized‑deposit networks, suggesting a parallel push toward private‑sector digital money solutions.

These actions together shape the United States’ divergent path from other jurisdictions that are actively piloting or launching CBDCs.