OCC Targets November for Final Rule on Stablecoin Regulations Under GENIUS Act

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) is set to implement a final rule for stablecoin issuers under the GENIUS Act by November 2026. This legislation, which was signed into law on July 18, 2025, establishes a federal framework for payment stablecoins, a development eagerly awaited by the stablecoin industry.

The OCC's timeline comes after it missed the initial statutory deadline for finalizing implementing rules, which was also set for July 18, 2026. The agency had previously issued a notice of proposed rulemaking on February 25, 2026, with a public comment period that ended on May 1, 2026. This proposed rule encompasses reserve backing requirements, risk management frameworks, and capital and liquidity standards that align with those for traditional depository institutions.

In a coordinated effort, the OCC is working alongside the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), both of which have introduced parallel proposals. Additionally, the Treasury Department and FinCEN have addressed anti-money laundering and sanctions compliance obligations for stablecoin issuers, ensuring that these entities adhere to standards similar to those imposed on banks.

The GENIUS Act mandates that stablecoin issuers comply with AML rules and consumer protection standards that exceed many state-level regulations. The effective date of the act will be either January 18, 2027, or 120 days after the final rules are issued, whichever occurs first. Should the OCC finalize its rule in November, the effective date could be pushed to around March 2027, while any delays beyond mid-September 2026 would enforce the January deadline, significantly compressing the compliance timeline.