Washington’s “Crypto Week” Begins: Three Landmark Bills Could Reshape U.S. Crypto Policy

Starting July 14, the U.S. Congress enters what lawmakers and insiders are calling “Crypto Week” , a pivotal moment for digital assets in America. With three major crypto bills on the docket, the next few days could chart the future of stablecoins, decentralized finance, and the government’s role in digital currency.

Three bills. One crossroads. The stakes are high.

CLARITY Act: Rewriting the Rules for Crypto Market Structure

At the heart of the debate is the CLARITY Act, a sweeping attempt to modernize U.S. crypto regulation. The bill would move oversight of most digital assets from the SEC to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) by recognizing certain “mature blockchains” as commodities, not securities. It effectively seeks to retire the Howey Test, a New Deal-era legal standard that many argue is outdated in a blockchain world.

Supporters say the CLARITY Act could end years of regulatory confusion, give the industry long-awaited legal certainty, and attract capital back to U.S. shores.

But critics, including Senator Elizabeth Warren, warn it’s a Trojan horse — a Silicon Valley-backed push to weaken oversight and enable speculative excess.

Blockchain Association CEO Summer Mersinger told the Senate on July 9 that the current framework “has stifled innovation” and the lack of congressional action is the “single greatest threat” to American leadership in the crypto space.

Whether the bill will pass both chambers remains unclear. Even if it stalls in the Senate, its movement in the House could signal long-term momentum toward a dedicated digital asset framework.

Stablecoin Regulation: GENIUS Act Poised for Swift Passage

Arguably the most likely to pass this week is the GENIUS Act – Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins. The bill has already cleared the Senate and is backed by both parties, including President Donald Trump, who urged the House to adopt the Senate’s version without delay.

The GENIUS Act would:

• Require full reserves backing stablecoins.
• Enforce transparency and disclosures.
• Allow stablecoins to integrate into the U.S. financial system under clear rules.

Proponents see this as a milestone toward a digital dollar economy without a CBDC. The bill’s passage would mark the first major federal legislation governing stablecoins — a critical pillar for crypto adoption and blockchain finance.

Despite some concerns about market impacts and central bank roles, the GENIUS Act is widely viewed as a pragmatic compromise that could establish stablecoins as “the new dollar” , regulated, trusted, and mainstream.

CBDC Ban: Symbolic, But Politically Charged

The third bill up for debate is Rep. Tom Emmer’s anti-CBDC proposal, a straightforward ban on a U.S. central bank digital currency (CBDC). While the Federal Reserve has no immediate plans for a digital dollar, the bill has become a symbolic flashpoint for concerns over privacy, surveillance, and state control.

Supporters say the bill ensures the government doesn’t weaponize digital currency as a surveillance tool.

Opponents argue that banning CBDCs outright cedes ground to rivals like China, whose digital yuan is already in deployment.

Despite limited real-world urgency, the bill plays into the broader partisan divide over crypto and government power.

More Than Policy: Politics Behind Crypto Week

While industry leaders welcome the legislative clarity, the political subtext is impossible to ignore.

President Trump’s vocal pro-crypto stance has energized Republican lawmakers and aligned parts of the digital asset industry with his campaign. Some Democrats, however, have criticized the Trump family’s crypto involvement as potential corruption, casting a shadow over the week’s events.

Anthony Georgiades, general partner at Innovating Capital, called Crypto Week “a real step forward” in policy, but acknowledged the “undeniable political angle.”

“This is about both long-term legislation and short-term positioning,” he said.

What’s at Stake

Crypto Week is not just a legislative session — it’s a test of whether the U.S. can lead the future of finance or get left behind.

As Bitcoin flirts with $118,000 and Ethereum pushes past $3,000, the crypto markets are already voting with their wallets. Regardless of how Congress moves, blockchain is no longer waiting for permission. But the laws made, or not made – this week will shape the rules it plays by.