Trump Signs Historic GENIUS Act, Ushering in First U.S. Federal Crypto Law

July 18, 2025 — Washington, D.C.
In a landmark move for the digital finance world, President Donald Trump signed the GENIUS Act into law on Friday, establishing the United States' first comprehensive federal crypto legislation. The bill, passed by the House just a day earlier in a 306–122 vote, sets strict regulatory standards for stablecoins—including mandatory 1:1 dollar backing, routine audits, and compulsory registration with federal or state agencies.

The signing took place behind closed doors Friday morning. Trump, in his signature style, quipped to reporters afterward, “It’s called the GENIUS Act. I think it’s named after me.”

The bill's passage follows intense eleventh-hour negotiations led by Crypto Czar David Sacks. “We thought the bill was dead,” Sacks admitted. “But then we had our secret weapon: the commander in chief.”

While the GENIUS Act gained broad bipartisan backing, it’s not without controversy. Critics, including Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, claim the bill could open the door to a central bank digital currency (CBDC), a move she equates with the end of cash and personal financial freedom.

“The Fed has been preparing for this. This is the first step to a cashless surveillance state,” Greene posted on X, condemning House Republicans for pushing the bill without ensuring the Anti-CBDC Act clears the Senate.

Proponents counter that GENIUS actually blocks algorithmic stablecoins and strengthens the dollar’s digital representation under transparent private issuance—not government control.

Now officially law, the GENIUS Act gives regulators until 2026 to roll out the framework for licensing and oversight of stablecoin issuers. As the U.S. enters a new era of crypto governance, the impact of Trump’s intervention is already being hailed as a defining moment for the industry.