OCC finalizes its GENIUS Act stablecoin rule
The OCC issued its final GENIUS Act rule on October 21, 2026. It takes effect January 18, 2027.
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) issued its final rule to implement the GENIUS Act on October 21, 2026. The rule and the Act take effect on January 18, 2027. The GENIUS Act is the US federal framework for payment stablecoins.
What the rule covers
- Requirements for permitted payment stablecoin issuers under OCC jurisdiction.
- Requirements for foreign payment stablecoin issuers under OCC jurisdiction.
- Certain custody activities by OCC-supervised entities.
The OCC says the rule sets standards for reserve backing, redemption and risk management. Rules on the Bank Secrecy Act, anti-money laundering and sanctions will come in a separate rulemaking with the Treasury. The OCC received hundreds of comments on the proposal.
What comes next
The OCC will announce in a separate release when it starts to accept applications and waiver requests from prospective issuers. No date is set yet.
Why it matters for stakers and institutions
Clear rules for stablecoins and custody make it easier for banks and funds to hold and move digital assets. Many of those flows settle on proof-of-stake networks such as Ethereum and Solana. A firm date also gives compliance teams a timeline to plan around.
See how stakefish works with institutional stakers, or read The State of Ethereum in 2026.
