House and Senate leaders reach a deal to move forward on the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, a bill focused on housing affordability. The agreement includes a provision that bars the Federal Reserve from issuing or creating a central bank digital currency (CBDC) or a substantially similar digital asset until the end of 2030. The CBDC ban was originally included when the Senate passed its version of the bill in March, and the House supported its version earlier in May. After disagreements between the chambers, Senate leaders add further amendments that are sent back to the House for consideration before a final vote.
The bill is also designed to address housing affordability by prohibiting institutional investors from buying existing single-family homes to rent them out. Sources describe the plan as likely to advance quickly, with the House expected to vote after its scheduled return from recess on June 23. The CBDC-related language includes an expiration date of Dec. 31, 2030, and it contains a carveout for certain crypto stablecoins described as dollar-denominated, open, permissionless, and private.