Stablecoin Rules Take Shape as GENIUS Act Deadline Approaches
2026-04-15
The Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act, signed into law in July 2025, established the first comprehensive federal framework for regulating payment stablecoins in the United States. Through the first half of 2026, several federal agencies advanced proposed rules to implement its requirements.
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) issued a notice of proposed rulemaking covering national banks, federal savings associations, and both federal- and state-qualified payment stablecoin issuers, addressing licensing and operational standards required under the Act, according to the OCC's own bulletin.
Separately, the FDIC Board approved its own proposed rule on April 7, 2026, establishing capital, reserve, and redemption requirements for FDIC-supervised stablecoin issuers, and clarifying that deposits held as stablecoin reserves would not receive pass-through deposit insurance to individual stablecoin holders, per the FDIC's press release.
The Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network and Office of Foreign Assets Control also issued a joint proposed rule addressing anti-money-laundering and sanctions compliance obligations for stablecoin issuers. The GENIUS Act's effective date is set for the earlier of 18 months after its July 2025 enactment or 120 days after final implementing regulations are issued.
Related on this site: Learn more about how stablecoins work in our Stablecoins Explained guide.