OCC releases final rule for payment stablecoins under the GENIUS Act

The US Treasury has released a final rule implementing the GENIUS Act, putting a federal framework around payment stablecoins. The detailed version comes from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), which finalized its rule on October 21, 2026. It sets federal standards for payment stablecoin issuers that fall under the OCC’s jurisdiction. What the rule actually requires The rule takes effect on January 18, 2027. That is the same day the GENIUS Act itself becomes effective, so the law and the rulebook arrive together. The statute’s full name is the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act. It was enacted on July 18, 2025, which gives the industry roughly 18 months between signature and enforcement. The rule covers several types of institutions: National banks Federal savings associations Certain subsidiaries of those institutions Foreign payment stablecoin issuers The core requirement is reserves. Issuers must hold at least 1:1 backing in eligible, high-quality assets. That includes US currency, insured deposits and short-term Treasury securities. Redemption matters just as much. Issuers need clear redemption policies, and those redemptions...