US stablecoin regulation has entered an enforceable implementation phase, with the Department of the Treasury soliciting comments on stablecoin implementation rules under the GENIUS Act.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury has issued a notice of proposed rulemaking, soliciting public comments on the payment stablecoin regulatory framework under Section 3 of the GENIUS Act. Per the legislation, starting January 18, 2027, any individual issuing payment stablecoins in the U.S. must obtain a federal or state license; digital asset service providers are prohibited from offering foreign-issued payment stablecoins unless the foreign issuer has the technical capability to comply with U.S. laws and reciprocal arrangements. Starting July 18, 2028, all payment stablecoins that service providers offer or sell to persons within the U.S. must be issued by a licensed issuer. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated, “Trump and Congress passed the GENIUS Act, establishing a landmark framework and clear rules for payment stablecoins, and the Treasury is moving quickly to implement it.” The core of this proposed rule is to define the specific meanings of “issuing payment stablecoins in the U.S.” and “offering or selling to persons within the U.S.,” clarifying for the industry when a license is required and how to operate compliantly in the U.S. market. The public may submit comments within 60 days of the notice’s publication in the Federal Register. This rulemaking builds on a prior notice issued by the Treasury last September, marking the transition of stablecoin regulation from a framework act to the implementation of enforceable rules, which will directly impact the compliance paths of major stablecoin issuers including USDC and USDT, as well as trading platforms.