Treasury Secretary Reiterates No-CBDC Stance, Pushes Congress on Crypto Clarity Act
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent publicly reaffirmed the Trump administration's commitment to blocking a central bank digital currency, while simultaneously urging both chambers of Congress to advance the Clarity Act. The statements were made during a formal press briefing, signaling continued executive-branch engagement with digital asset legislation. For the XRP ecosystem, regulatory clarity on digital assets, including the Clarity Act's framework, has direct implications for Ripple's legal standing and XRPL-based payment rails.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent used a Thursday press briefing to deliver two pointed messages relevant to the digital asset space: the Trump administration will not pursue a central bank digital currency, and Congress should move the Clarity Act across the finish line.
The explicit 'no CBDC' commitment, reiterated at the cabinet level, reinforces the administration's posture that private-sector digital assets, rather than a government-issued alternative, are the preferred model for U.S. digital finance. This stance is broadly constructive for non-sovereign digital assets including XRP.
Bessent's appeal to both the House and Senate to advance the Clarity Act underscores executive pressure on the legislative timeline. The Clarity Act is widely watched in the XRP community as a potential vehicle for defining when a digital asset is a commodity versus a security, a distinction central to Ripple's ongoing regulatory situation.
The convergence of a no-CBDC policy and a push for statutory clarity could shape the competitive landscape for dollar-denominated stablecoins like RLUSD as well as cross-border payment networks built on the XRPL.
Key facts
- •Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reaffirmed a 'no CBDC' policy under the Trump administration.
- •Bessent called on both the House and Senate to advance the Clarity Act during a Thursday press briefing.
- •The Clarity Act carries significant implications for digital asset classification, including XRP's regulatory status.
- •Statement was made at an official press briefing, giving it cabinet-level weight.