GENIUS Act Clears Senate, Stablecoin Framework Advances to House
The US Senate has voted to pass an amended version of the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for US Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act.
The Tuesday vote saw a decisive 68-30 result in favor of the bill, just over a month after it was first introduced by Senator Bill Hagerty of Tennessee.
“With this bill, the United States is one step closer to becoming the global leader in crypto,” said Hagerty from the Senate floor before the Tuesday vote, adding: “Once the GENIUS Act is law, businesses of all sizes, and Americans across the country will be able to settle payments nearly instantaneously rather than waiting for days or sometimes even weeks.”
GENIUS Act vote (Source: US Senate)
The legislation, which focuses on creating a clear regulatory framework for US-based payment stablecoins, now awaits further deliberation in the House of Representatives. There, it may be paired with the STABLE Act — a companion proposal — but both bills could still face revisions and partisan debate, particularly over ties between the crypto industry and figures close to President Donald Trump.
Political Tensions Bubble Under the Surface
The GENIUS Act faced initial resistance in the Senate back in May, failing to pass a cloture vote due to Democratic concerns around the Trump family’s crypto entanglements. Specifically, critics pointed to their stake in World Liberty Financial, the issuer of USD1 — a privately issued stablecoin launched earlier this year.
While Republicans currently hold a narrow majority in the House, it remains uncertain whether the bill will have the same level of support across the aisle. David Sacks, Trump’s recently appointed “AI and crypto czar,” has hinted that the president would back the GENIUS Act if it reached his desk — a scenario that’s becoming increasingly likely.
Industry and Big Tech Already Eyeing Opportunities After GENIUS Act Clears Senate
The stakes go beyond Capitol Hill. Major tech and social media players like Apple, Google, Airbnb, and even Elon Musk’s X are reportedly exploring how a regulated stablecoin environment could fit into their business models. Lawmakers have also raised concerns over whether Meta (formerly Facebook) might revive stablecoin ambitions if a clear legal framework is established.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent added fuel to the momentum with a statement on X, writing: “Recent reporting projects that stablecoins could grow into a $3.7 trillion market by the end of the decade. That scenario becomes more likely with passage of the GENIUS Act.”
Still to Come: The CLARITY Act
As the GENIUS Act moves forward, attention is also shifting to the House’s next big crypto decision — the CLARITY Act. This bill aims to establish broader market structure rules for digital assets and has already cleared the House Agriculture and Financial Services Committees.
But critics, particularly from consumer advocacy circles, remain wary. Bartlett Naylor of Public Citizen issued a scathing statement: “In advancing these bills, lawmakers forfeited their opportunity to confront Trump’s crypto grift — the largest, most flagrant corruption in presidential history. These bills serve to legitimize what amounts to a massive scam with the American flag.”
A Watershed Moment for Stablecoins?
Whether you view it as a long-overdue step toward regulatory clarity or a political move wrapped in crypto ambition, the GENIUS Act’s Senate approval signals that the United States is getting serious about stablecoin policy. What happens next in the House could determine the future of digital payments not just for tech giants and financial firms — but for every American with a smartphone and a wallet app.
