Bitcoin News Today: Trump Intervention Revives GENIUS Act, Bitcoin Surges 3%

The GENIUS Act, a pivotal piece of legislation aimed at regulating stablecoins and defining digital asset rules, has once again taken center stage in U.S. crypto policy. Initially, House Republicans blocked a procedural vote on the GENIUS Act, which was paired with the CLARITY Act and the Anti-CBDC bill. The concern was that these bills might inadvertently grant the Federal Reserve the authority to mint a central bank digital currency (CBDC).

However, the tide turned when Trump intervened, holding a late-night Oval Office meeting with 11 holdouts. This intervention resulted in a revote that reinstated the discussion of the GENIUS Act. The initial vote had a tally of 196-223, but the revote set the legislation back on track.

Critics from the Freedom Caucus expressed concerns about the bill’s lack of specific prohibition of a CBDC. Komodo’s CTO, Kadan Stadelmann, echoed these worries, stating that the GENIUS Act did not include language specifically stopping the Fed from issuing a CBDC. He also expressed concern that the Treasury could experiment with digital currency instead.

The reversal of the GENIUS Act vote had an immediate impact on the price of Bitcoin. Initially, the first procedural vote led to a 3% drop under $116,000. However, after Trump confirmed his support for the GENIUS Act, the price surged above $118,000. This resurgence in momentum dovetailed with Bitcoin’s price topping out between the $120,000 and $123,000 levels, backed by increased institutional inflows.

Proponents of the GENIUS Act argue that it will provide regulatory clarity to DeFi creators and lower enforcement liabilities. However, critics caution that the bill could establish a framework for government-led cryptocurrencies and centralized stablecoins if it doesn’t include restrictive language surrounding what a CBDC would be. Prominent Democrats, such as Rep. Maxine Waters, have expressed concerns about the potential for fraud and consumer harm.

The GENIUS Act, which passed the Senate 68–30 on June 17, 2025, requires reserves, audits, and dual supervision. A strategic Bitcoin reserve was formed in response to a March 6 Trump executive order, which has collected 200,000 BTC from the treasury. The U.S.-circulating stablecoin supply is now over $150 billion, with heavyweights such as Circle and Coinbase poised to benefit.

According to recent findings, the GENIUS Act still changes a lot for U.S. crypto oversight. Though it offers clarity over digital assets, discussions over the risks associated with CBDC and restrictions to DeFi still split legislators and market commentators. The price of Bitcoin is a mix of optimistic caution. The ultimate vote will decide whether the law ends up encouraging innovation or reining in a sector that is seeking independence and growth away from central control.

If the GENIUS Act moves forward with protections for CBDC, we might expect additional contributions to bitcoin price and stablecoin assimilations through Circle, Coinbase, Visa, and Mastercard. But a lack of clarity around restrictions on CBDC could also still cause some uncertainty in the markets.