The U.S. House of Representatives passed its first major crypto bill of the week on Thursday, backing legislation aimed at setting clearer rules for digital assets.
Lawmakers voted 294-134 in favor of the Digital Asset Market Clarity (CLARITY) Act, a Republican-led bill that lays the groundwork for how cryptocurrencies are regulated in the United States. Nearly 80 Democrats joined Republicans in supporting the measure, which is one of three crypto-focused bills expected to move through the House before the August recess.
The vote followed hours of delay on Wednesday, as internal disputes flared over central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). A group of Republicans held up proceedings, demanding language to block development of a U.S. CBDC.
The broader legislative push comes as part of what GOP lawmakers dubbed “crypto week,” aligned with President Donald Trump’s promise to fast-track his crypto agenda.
Next up is the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for US Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act, which would create a federal framework for payment stablecoins. A vote is expected soon, alongside the Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act, which targets the potential use of government-issued digital currencies for surveillance.
Trump reportedly said he intends to sign the GENIUS Act into law by Friday, provided the Senate-passed version remains unchanged.
While several Democrats backed the move, others—such as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Elizabeth Warren, and Amy Klobuchar—voted against it, citing concerns over regulatory loopholes, money laundering safeguards, and conflicts of interest tied to President Trump.
Senate Banking Chair Tim Scott, a co-sponsor of the bill, called it a “win for national security and innovation,” crediting bipartisan cooperation for getting it this far. Majority Leader John Thune echoed that sentiment from the floor, adding that the GENIUS Act “moves crypto into the mainstream” and could help the U.S. become a global leader in digital assets.
But Warren delivered a blistering speech in opposition, warning that the bill—without further amendments—could leave the door open to what she called “presidential corruption through crypto.” She criticized Trump’s involvement with World Liberty Financial, a DeFi venture tied to his family, which recently launched its own stablecoin and offered dinner with Trump to memecoin holders.
