House Republicans block crypto bill vote, delaying GENIUS, CLARITY, and Anti-CBDC acts

Key Takeaways

House Republicans blocked a procedural vote needed to consider two crypto bills on the House floor.
The procedural failure prevents the digital asset bills from advancing for debate and voting at this session.

House Republicans today blocked a procedural motion that would have allowed formal consideration of several key crypto regulations, including the GENIUS, CLARITY, and Anti-CBDC bills, a defense spending bill, and an amendment to release the Epstein files.

The motion failed by a vote of 196 to 223, with a majority of Republicans voting against it. As a result, the crypto legislation and related measures could not advance to floor debate or final passage.

Despite clearing the Rules Committee yesterday, the bills remained stalled without the rule’s approval. Majority Leader Steve Scalise had scheduled the vote to set the terms of debate, with final passage expected later this week.

Speaker Mike Johnson pointed to internal disagreements within the Republican caucus. “We have some members who really, really want to emphasize the House’s product,” Johnson said, referring to calls to merge the crypto bills into a single legislative package.

Majority Leader Steve Scalise echoed the internal divide, saying, “I was one of those who would like to see the whole package as one. But the president and the Senate really want us to move GENIUS first. The question is, do we play games with the Senate bill when the president has made it clear he wants GENIUS on his desk as it’s written?”

The procedural failure also blocked consideration of a separate amendment that would have compelled the release of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein’s files.

Johnson said the House will vote again on the rule later this afternoon. For now, key crypto legislation and unrelated controversial amendments remain in limbo.

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