USGENIUS Act 2025

GENIUS Act

Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for US Stablecoins Act

The first US federal legislation establishing a comprehensive regulatory framework for payment stablecoins. Defines permitted payment stablecoin issuers (PPSIs) and their obligations.

In force

2025

The GENIUS Act creates the Permitted Payment Stablecoin Issuer (PPSI) category — entities authorised by federal or state regulators to issue dollar-pegged stablecoins for payment purposes. It closes a regulatory gap that had left US stablecoin issuers operating without clear federal oversight. It was signed into law in 2025 and will become effective on 18 January 2027, or exactly 120 days after federal banking regulators finalise the implementing rules, whichever comes first.

The Act simultaneously bans federal retail CBDC development, establishing a clear policy direction: private stablecoins over state-issued digital dollars. This makes the GENIUS Act the foundational instrument for the future of the US digital dollar infrastructure.

All PPSIs must maintain 1:1 reserves in liquid assets, publish monthly reserve attestations, implement full BSA/AML programmes, and build technical freeze capabilities into their stablecoin contracts. The supervisory framework is administered through existing bank regulatory agencies.

What compliance professionals need to know

Two PPSI charter tracks: federally chartered (OCC or Federal Reserve) or state-chartered under minimum federal standards

1:1 reserve requirement in US Treasuries, central bank reserves, or insured deposits — monthly third-party attestation

Full BSA/AML programme required: CIP, SAR filing, recordkeeping — bank-standard obligations

Token-level freeze/seize capability required as a legal obligation, not optional product feature

Non-US stablecoin issuers serving US persons: GENIUS Act obligations apply regardless of domicile

April 2026 — Treasury/FinCEN NPRM for PPSI AML requirements published; June 2026 — public comment period closed

Effective date: 18 January 2027, or 120 days after federal implementing rules are finalised — whichever comes first

CARCI programmes covering GENIUS Act

Examination-assessed specialist programmes for regulatory and compliance professionals.

GENIUS Act Specialist

GENIUS Act & US Stablecoin Regulation Specialist

$199

15h · Examination included

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