Trump Halts 85-5 Housing Bill, Leaving CBDC Ban in Limbo

For the crypto and Web3 sector, the most consequential line in the 1,200-page housing bill isn't about zoning or institutional investors—it's the temporary prohibition on the Federal Reserve issuing a central bank digital currency. Trump's abrupt cancellation of the signing ceremony over the unrelated Save America Act raises the stakes: if the entire housing package collapses or is vetoed, the CBDC ban evaporates with it. This political detour turns a widely-supported, bipartisan housing fix into a high-wire act for digital currency advocates who see the ban as a firewall against government encroachment on decentralized finance.

On June 24, 2026, President Donald Trump abruptly canceled the signing ceremony for the '21st Century ROAD to Housing Act,' a sprawling bipartisan housing affordability bill, to leverage its enactment for passage of the 'Save America Act,' a voter ID law. The move injects high-stakes political brinkmanship into what was widely considered the most significant housing legislation in decades, after the Senate overwhelmingly approved the bill by an 85-5 vote on Monday, June 22, and the House swiftly followed suit late the next day. The cancellation underscores Trump's willingness to tie critical housing policy to his core election-integrity agenda, creating a precarious 10-day window during which the bill could become law automatically if he takes no action while Congress remains in session—or face a veto if his demands are not met.

“

For the crypto and Web3 sector, the most consequential line in the 1,200-page housing bill isn't about zoning or institutional investors—it's the temporary prohibition on the Federal Reserve issuing a central bank digital currency.

The ROAD to Housing Act combines elements from earlier House and Senate proposals, aiming to boost U.S. housing supply by slashing regulatory red tape on construction and imposing a first-of-its-kind federal curb on large institutional investors. Specifically, it would bar entities owning more than 350 single-family homes from acquiring additional properties, except for designated 'build-to-rent' developments. The provision targets massive holders like Wall Street-backed funds, seeking to tilt the market back toward individual homebuyers and address soaring shelter costs that have become a central economic pain point.

Buried within the housing-focused text is a politically charged rider: a temporary ban on the Federal Reserve issuing a central bank digital currency (CBDC). The provision reflects escalating Republican concerns over government-controlled digital money as a threat to financial privacy and the private cryptocurrency sector. Lawmakers were divided over the rider, with some pushing for a permanent prohibition, signaling ongoing ideological battles over the future of U.S. monetary infrastructure. The presence of this CBDC language in a housing bill highlights how digital currency policy has become entangled with broader legislative bargains, raising the stakes for the crypto and fintech industries.

The president's decision to cancel the signing ceremony on the day it was scheduled—June 24—represents a tactical bet that the popular housing bill can be used to force the Senate and House to deliver the Save America Act, which would mandate voter identification nationwide. By tying the two, Trump aims to put pressure on Democrats and some Republicans who oppose stricter voting rules but may want to avoid blame for blocking housing relief. The gambit is not without risk: the ROAD to Housing Act passed with substantial Democratic support, but if it lapses into law via pocket passage (taking effect after 10 days without a signature), Congress could pivot to address the voter bill on a separate track, potentially diluting the leverage.