The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) has finalized rules implementing President Donald Trump’s GENIUS Act, establishing requirements for payment stablecoin issuers under its supervision ahead of the framework’s implementation in January 2027.
The OCC announced the final rule on October 21, alongside revised reporting forms for permitted payment stablecoin issuers and registered foreign issuers. The forms will require weekly and quarterly submissions to support regulatory supervision and improve transparency around issuers’ financial condition.
Final Rules Establish Requirements for Stablecoin Issuers
The final rule implements provisions of the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act, which Trump signed into law on July 18, 2025. The legislation establishes a federal framework for payment stablecoin issuance and gives regulators responsibility for setting requirements for issuers under their jurisdictions.
The OCC developed the rules following a February proposal and a public comment period that closed on May 1, 2026. The final version incorporates feedback from stakeholders and sets out requirements for stablecoin issuance and related activities under the agency’s authority.
The move follows an earlier OCC commitment to finalize its principal GENIUS Act regulations by November, after Comptroller of the Currency Jonathan Gould outlined the agency’s plans to complete the rules and prepare to process applications in 2027. The agency had faced scrutiny after missing the GENIUS Act’s July 18, 2026, rulemaking deadline, leaving the principal implementing regulations unfinished.
Investor Takeaway
The OCC has finalized GENIUS Act rules establishing federal requirements for payment stablecoin issuers, covering issuance, oversight and related activities as the US prepares to implement the framework in January 2027.
Reporting Requirements Await Federal Approval
The OCC has also revised two reporting forms following feedback on its June 2026 proposal and changes introduced in the final rule. The weekly form covers payment stablecoin activity and reserves, while the quarterly form collects reports on issuers’ financial condition and income. The agency is inviting public comments on the revised forms within 30 days of their publication in the Federal Register. The proposed reporting requirements remain subject to approval by the Office of Management and Budget.
If approved, weekly reporting would begin with the January 25, 2027, report date, while quarterly reporting would begin with the March 31, 2027, report date.
The OCC’s rulemaking comes as the Treasury Department develops separate regulations governing which entities may offer or sell payment stablecoins to people in the United States. The proposed GENIUS Act rules for domestic issuance and foreign-issued stablecoins could affect how exchanges handle tokens such as Tether’s USDT as regulators determine how overseas issuers must comply with US requirements.
The OCC said the revised reporting forms would help issuers comply with the final rule, support its supervision of domestic and foreign issuers, and improve transparency around their financial condition. The agency will continue the separate approval process for the reporting requirements.
Investor Takeaway
The OCC has revised weekly and quarterly reporting forms to track stablecoin activity, reserve assets and issuers’ financial conditions, with the proposed reporting requirements awaiting public consultation and approval from the Office of Management and Budget.
