OCC finalizes GENIUS Act rules for stablecoin issuers and custody

Latest NewsPublishedOct 21, 2026The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency’s final rule covers payment stablecoin issuance and some custody activities, with the GENIUS Act framework taking effect in mid-January.The US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency finalized rules Wednesday for payment stablecoin reserves, redemptions and related custody activities, implementing the GENIUS Act for entities under its jurisdiction.The final rule states issuers must maintain reserves worth at least as much as their outstanding stablecoins and generally process redemption requests within two business days.The rule applies to national banks, federal savings associations and federal branches and their subsidiaries, as well as nonbank firms that seek or receive federal qualified issuer status, according to the agency’s announcement. It also covers state-qualified issuers when the OCC has regulatory or enforcement authority over them.The rule and the GENIUS Act will take effect Jan. 18, 2027. “We are providing a clear, practical framework for payment stablecoin innovation, with strong standards for reserve backing, redemption, and risk management,” Comptroller of the Currency Jonathan Gould s...