Trump Delays Housing Bill Signing Amid CBDC Ban Controversy

US President Donald Trump has put on hold the signing of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which includes a ban on the Federal Reserve issuing a central bank digital currency (CBDC) until the end of 2030.

The bill, passed by both chambers of Congress, also contains a stablecoin carve-out that permits 'dollar-denominated' tokens with specified openness and access characteristics. This exception would allow certain stablecoins to operate while prohibiting CBDCs from being issued or created during the same period.

Trump's decision to delay the signing of the housing bill is linked to his stance on the SAVE America Act, which he says must be passed before other legislation can proceed. The SAVE America Act proposal aims to require voters to provide proof of US citizenship in person to register, a move that has been criticized for potentially disenfranchising eligible voters.

The delay raises uncertainty about when and if the CBDC moratorium will take effect, which could impact digital-asset compliance planning for institutions. The postponement also affects other pending crypto-related legislation, including the Digital Asset Market Clarity (CLARITY) Act, which is still awaiting a potential vote in the US Senate.

Supporters of the housing bill, including Senate Republicans and Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren, have expressed backing for the CBDC limitation as part of a broader legislative package. However, Trump's condition for signing other legislation introduces uncertainty that could affect the practical implementation of the CBDC moratorium and stablecoin exception.