New Housing Bill Would Block Fed From Issuing Consumer CBDC Until 2030
A newly introduced U.S. housing bill contains a clause that would prevent the Federal Reserve from offering a consumer-facing digital dollar until 2030. The restriction does not stop the Fed from researching or running limited pilots, but it blocks any public-facing retail issuance for the next several years. Lawmakers framing the clause cite worries about privacy, financial stability, and the potential erosion of commercial bank deposits. The provision is a setback for advocates who argue a digital dollar could modernize payments and counter foreign CBDC moves, and it raises fresh questions for stablecoin issuers and payment firms about the future regulatory landscape. If the clause survives the legislative process it will force policymakers and industry to recalibrate timelines and strategies while the Fed continues behind-the-scenes work without a consumer rollout.