The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency issued its final rule implementing the GENIUS Act on October 21, 2026. This regulation establishes standards for stablecoin issuers under its jurisdiction before the law takes effect on January 18, 2027.
The rule sets requirements for reserves, redemption, risk management, custody and capital. It does not include anti-money laundering or sanctions rules, which will be addressed in a separate rulemaking with the Treasury Department.
Key facts
- The OCC finalized the rule on October 21, 2026, ahead of the January 18, 2027 effective date of the GENIUS Act.
- The regulation applies to payment stablecoin issuers under OCC oversight, including subsidiaries of national banks and approved nonbank issuers.
- Requirements cover reserve assets, redemption, risk management, audits, reporting, custody and capital backstops.
- Anti-money laundering and sanctions compliance are excluded from this rule and will be handled separately with the Treasury.
- The OCC stated it will announce separately when it begins accepting applications and waiver requests from prospective issuers.
- The GENIUS Act was signed into law in July 2025 and bars unauthorized entities from issuing payment stablecoins in the U.S.
Why it matters
The finalized rule provides the specific regulatory framework that permitted stablecoin issuers must meet when the GENIUS Act becomes effective in January 2027.