OCC Targets November Deadline for GENIUS Act Stablecoin Rulebook

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) aims to publish its final payment stablecoin rulebook by November. The agency is moving to establish a regulatory framework before the broader effective date of the GENIUS Act in January.

OCC Comptroller Jonathan Gould announced the November target during the Wyoming Blockchain Symposium. The push for finalization follows a missed statutory deadline of July 18, 2026, which required primary federal regulators to issue implementing regulations. The agency is now racing to deliver the rules before the law's own effective date.

The GENIUS Act Framework

The Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act was signed into law on July 18, 2025. This legislation represents the first major standalone federal cryptocurrency framework in United States law, creating a structured environment for payment stablecoins. The Act specifically mandates strict requirements for reserves, redemption processes, public disclosure, and licensing.

Under Section 13 of the Act, several federal entities—including the OCC, the Federal Reserve, the FDIC, and the NCUA—were tasked with promulgating the necessary implementing regulations within one year of the law's signing. However, multiple agencies failed to meet the July 2026 deadline, leaving many of the critical operational rules in the proposal stage.

Market Implications

The delay in rulemaking creates a high-pressure environment for stablecoin issuers. Because the GENIUS Act is expected to take effect on January 18, 2027, regardless of whether the implementing rules are finished, the window for companies to achieve full compliance has been significantly compressed.

The final rulebook is critical because it will define the exact operational standards for liquidity, capital requirements, and the types of reserve assets permitted. These standards will effectively govern the legality and stability of the U.S. stablecoin market, determining how issuers must manage their holdings to protect consumers and maintain systemic financial stability.

Next Steps

Industry participants are now watching for the November release to determine the specific compliance hurdles they must clear before the January 18 deadline. While the OCC has signaled its intent to finalize the rulebook, the broader regulatory landscape remains in flux as other agencies work to catch up with their respective mandates under the Act.