Regulation
Medium Risk ImpactSignal
GENIUS Act Creates First Federal Stablecoin Rules
Event: Feb 15, 2026
What happened
The GENIUS Act, signed into law in 2025, is now entering implementation. Regulators will finalize rules by July 2026, creating the first federal framework for stablecoin issuers. Stablecoins will have mandatory reserve requirements, regular audits, and redemption guarantees.
What actually changed
- •Stablecoins now have a clear legal status — not securities, not deposits
- •Issuers must hold adequate reserves and prove them through audits
- •Users gain legal right to redeem stablecoins at face value
- •OCC, FDIC, and state regulators will oversee stablecoin issuers
- •Full enforcement begins January 2027
Who is affected
UsersExchangesBusinesses
Does this change the basics?
No — Stablecoins work the same way technically. This adds legal protections for users holding them.
What a beginner should do
This is generally positive for stablecoin users. When choosing stablecoins, prefer those from issuers that comply with these new rules — they should be more transparent about reserves.