OCC Seeks Public Feedback on GENIUS Act Implementation Proposal

TheNewsCryptoPublished on 2026-02-26Last updated on 2026-02-26

Abstract

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) has proposed new rules to implement the GENIUS Act, which was enacted in July 2025 to regulate payment stablecoin issuers. The proposal, spanning 376 pages, aims to create a clear regulatory framework for stablecoin issuance and custody activities under OCC supervision. It excludes anti-money laundering and sanctions rules, which will be addressed separately. The public is invited to provide feedback within 60 days. The rules are expected to be updated after the GENIUS Act takes effect, potentially by January 2027. OCC Comptroller Jonathan V. Gould emphasized the importance of public input to shape an effective and practical final rule.

The OCC has proposed rules to implement the GENIUS Act, and aksing the public feedback for the proposal within 60 days of publication, as the move is aimed to support innovation while ensuring safety in the growing stablecoin market.

Firstly, the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act was enacted on July 18, 2025, which establishes a regulatory framework for payment stablecoin issuer activities.

According to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency’s official statement on February 25, the proposal would create a clear framework for stablecoin issuers operating under its supervision, including rules related to issuance and certain custody activities.

Key Details of the Proposal

The proposal spans approximately 376 pages and notes, “The OCC will have regulatory or enforcement authority over certain permitted payment stablecoin issuers, including subsidiaries of national banks or Federal savings associations, Federal qualified payment stablecoin issuers, and State qualified payment stablecoin issuers subject to the OCC’s regulatory or enforcement authority.”

However, rules related to anti-money laundering (AML), the Bank Secrecy Act, and sanctions (OFAC) are not included in this proposal. Those will be introduced separately in coordination with the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

The proposal also noted that OCC anticipates that these implementing regulations will be updated in the years following the effective date of the GENIUS Act. Where the GENIUS Act’s effective date is the earlier of 18 months after the enactment date, which would be January 2027, after the primary Federal payment stablecoin regulators issue final regulations implementing the Act.

Further, the Comptroller of the Currency, Jonathan V. Gould, said, “We welcome feedback on the proposal to inform a final rule that is effective, practical, and reflects a broad industry perspective. The OCC will continue its work to implement the GENIUS Act and provide OCC-regulated entities with more opportunities to meet the needs of their customers and communities,” noted in the OCC’s statement.

Highlighted Crypto News:

Nimiq Unveils SynapTrack AML Framework to Combat Cross-Chain Crypto Laundering

The Top Bitcoin Predictions From Industry Experts Go As High As $500,000

A compilation of Bitcoin price predictions from industry experts, including banks, hedge fund managers, and venture capitalists, shows a wide range of bullish forecasts, with estimates going as high as $500,000. Bitcoin is currently trading around $78,000, showing signs of recovery. On the lower end, Citigroup projects a base target of $126,000 by end-2026, while other predictions include $148,000 from Pantera Capital, $150,000 from JPMorgan, $180,000 from VanEck, and up to $200,000 from Standard Chartered. More optimistic forecasts see Bitcoin reaching near or above $200,000, with Tom Lee targeting $189,000, Tim Draper at $250,000, Cathie Wood at $275,000, Robert Kiyosaki at $350,000, Anthony Scaramucci at $400,000, and Chamath Palihapitiya and Mike Novogratz projecting $500,000. The broad range of predictions highlights significant market division regarding Bitcoin’s upside this year, though overall sentiment remains bullish. Some major forecasts have already been revised downward, such as Citigroup cutting its 12-month target to $112,000 and Standard Chartered reducing its 2026 year-end target to $150,000, while maintaining a long-term $500,000 view for 2030.

bitcoinist13m ago

The Top Bitcoin Predictions From Industry Experts Go As High As $500,000

bitcoinist13m ago

North Korean Hackers Loot $500 Million in a Single Month, Becoming the Top Threat to Crypto Security

North Korean hackers, particularly the notorious Lazarus Group and its subgroup TraderTraitor, have stolen over $500 million from cryptocurrency DeFi platforms in less than three weeks, bringing their total theft for the year to over $700 million. Recent major attacks on Drift Protocol and KelpDAO, resulting in losses of approximately $286 million and $290 million respectively, highlight a strategic shift: instead of targeting core smart contracts, attackers are now exploiting vulnerabilities in peripheral infrastructure. For instance, the KelpDAO attack involved compromising downstream RPC infrastructure used by LayerZero's decentralized validation network (DVN), allowing manipulation without breaching core cryptography. This sophisticated approach mirrors advanced corporate cyber-espionage. Additionally, North Korea has systematically infiltrated the global crypto workforce, with an estimated 100 operatives using fake identities to gain employment at blockchain companies, enabling long-term access to sensitive systems and facilitating large-scale thefts. According to Chainalysis, North Korean-linked hackers stole a record $2 billion in 2025, accounting for 60% of all global crypto theft that year. Their total historical crypto theft has reached $6.75 billion. Post-theft, they employ specialized money laundering methods, heavily relying on Chinese OTC brokers and cross-chain mixing services rather than standard decentralized exchanges. Security experts, while acknowledging the increased sophistication, emphasize that many attacks still exploit fundamental weaknesses like poor access controls and centralized operational risks. Strengthening private key management, limiting privileged access, and enhancing coordination among exchanges, analysts, and law enforcement immediately after an attack are critical to improving defense and fund recovery chances. The industry's challenge now extends beyond secure smart contracts to safeguarding operational security at the infrastructure level.

marsbit56m ago

North Korean Hackers Loot $500 Million in a Single Month, Becoming the Top Threat to Crypto Security

marsbit56m ago

Circle CEO's Seoul Visit: No Korean Won Stablecoin Issuance, But Met All Major Korean Banks

Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire's recent activities in Seoul indicate a strategic shift for the company, moving away from issuing a Korean won-backed stablecoin and instead focusing on embedding itself as a key infrastructure provider within Korea’s financial and crypto ecosystem. Despite Korea accounting for nearly 30% of global crypto trading volume—with a market characterized by high retail participation and altcoin dominance—Circle has chosen not to compete for the role of stablecoin issuer. Instead, Allaire met with major Korean banks (including Shinhan, KB, and Woori), financial groups, leading exchanges (Upbit, Bithumb, Coinone), and tech firms like Kakao. This approach reflects a broader industry transition: the core of stablecoin competition is shifting from issuance rights to systemic positioning. With Korean regulators still debating whether banks or tech companies should issue stablecoins, Circle is avoiding regulatory uncertainty by strengthening its role as a service and technology partner. The company is deepening integration with trading platforms, building connections, and promoting stablecoin infrastructure. This positions Circle to benefit regardless of which entity eventually issues a won stablecoin. Allaire also noted the potential for a Chinese yuan stablecoin in the next 3–5 years, underscoring a regional trend of stablecoins becoming more regulated and integrated with traditional finance. Ultimately, Circle’s strategy highlights that future influence in the stablecoin market will belong not necessarily to the issuers, but to the foundational infrastructure layers that enable cross-system transactions.

marsbit1h ago

Circle CEO's Seoul Visit: No Korean Won Stablecoin Issuance, But Met All Major Korean Banks

marsbit1h ago

SpaceX Ties Up with Cursor: A High-Stakes AI Gambit of 'Lock First, Acquire Later'

SpaceX has secured an option to acquire AI programming company Cursor for $60 billion, with an alternative clause requiring a $10 billion collaboration fee if the acquisition does not proceed. This structure is not merely a potential acquisition but a strategic move to control core access points in the AI era. The deal is designed as a flexible, dual-path arrangement, allowing SpaceX to either fully acquire Cursor or maintain a binding partnership through high-cost collaboration. This "option-style" approach minimizes immediate regulatory and integration risks while ensuring long-term alignment between the two companies. At its core, the transaction exchanges critical AI-era resources: SpaceX provides its Colossus supercomputing cluster—one of the world’s most powerful AI training infrastructures—while Cursor contributes its AI-native developer environment and strong product adoption. This synergy connects compute power, models, and application layers, forming a closed-loop AI capability stack. Cursor, founded in 2022, has achieved rapid growth with over $1 billion in annual revenue and widespread enterprise adoption. Its value lies in transforming software development through AI agents capable of coding, debugging, and system design—positioning it as a gateway to future software production. For SpaceX, this move is part of a broader strategy to evolve from a aerospace company into an AI infrastructure empire, integrating xAI, supercomputing, and chip manufacturing. Controlling Cursor fills a gap in its developer tooling layer, strengthening its AI narrative ahead of a potential IPO. The deal reflects a shift in AI competition from model superiority to ecosystem and entry-point control. With programming tools as a key battleground, securing developer loyalty becomes crucial for dominating the software production landscape. Risks include questions around Cursor’s valuation, technical integration challenges, and potential regulatory scrutiny. Nevertheless, the deal underscores a strategic bet: controlling both compute and software development access may redefine power dynamics in the AI-driven future.

marsbit2h ago

SpaceX Ties Up with Cursor: A High-Stakes AI Gambit of 'Lock First, Acquire Later'

marsbit2h ago

Ripple’s Tokenization Bet: Will XRP Price Explode As It Enters This Trillion-Dollar Industry?

Institutional capital is quietly moving onto the XRP Ledger (XRPL), with over $333 million in tokenized US Treasury products now live from firms like BlackRock-backed Ondo Finance, OpenEden, Guggenheim, and abrdn. This marks a significant shift for XRPL, traditionally known for payments, into the tokenized real-world asset sector. While still a tiny fraction of the $30+ trillion Treasury market, XRPL's tokenized assets grew 2,200% in 2025. Experts project the global tokenization market could reach $200 trillion. If XRPL captures a notable share as this market scales, it could have significant implications for the price of XRP.

bitcoinist3h ago

Ripple’s Tokenization Bet: Will XRP Price Explode As It Enters This Trillion-Dollar Industry?

bitcoinist3h ago

Trading

Spot

Futures