House-Passed Housing Overhaul Includes CBDC Ban Through 2030
Congress has advanced what lawmakers are calling the most significant housing package in a generation, and it carries an unexpected crypto-related provision.
The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act passed the House on May 20, 2026, by a 396"13 vote, following the Senate's 89"10 approval on March 12. The legislation combines two prior efforts: the Senate's ROAD to Housing Act of 2025 and the House's Housing for the 21st Century Act, which the House approved earlier on February 9, 2026, by a 390"9 vote. Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott (R'SC) and Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren (D'MA) are listed as cosponsors.
The bill aims to boost housing supply by speeding up permitting, modernizing federal housing assistance, and expanding financing options through regulatory easing.
A standout for digital-asset markets appears in Section 1001, which would temporarily bar the Federal Reserve from issuing a central bank digital currency until at least 2030. The proposed CBDC pause aligns with the Trump administration's skeptical stance toward government-issued digital currencies while remaining more permissive toward private crypto markets.
On housing policy, Section 901 adds restrictions on large institutional investors buying single-family homes. The measure also streamlines approvals for new construction and updates federal housing assistance programs serving families, seniors, and veterans.
As of June 2026, the bill remains pending additional Senate action on amendments adopted by the House. Industry groups are pressing for a quick resolution, seeking regulatory certainty before midterm election dynamics tighten the calendar.
For crypto investors, the CBDC delay could be meaningful. Stablecoin issuers such as Circle and Tether would face a postponed federal competitor for payments, settlement, and dollar-denominated digital transactions. On the real-estate side, limits on institutional purchases of single-family homes could force large-scale residential buyers to revisit acquisition strategies.
