The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) plans to finalize its stablecoin rules by November in order to meet a January 18 statutory deadline, according to agency head Jonathan Gould.
Speaking Wednesday at the Wyoming Blockchain Symposium in Jackson, Gould stated that the agency is working quickly to weigh industry feedback and publish the final regulations. Although the OCC previously missed a July target, Gould emphasized the intent to move fast so the agency can begin processing issuer applications in 2027.
The regulations implement the GENIUS Act, a stablecoin framework signed into law in July 2025. While the law officially takes effect in January 2027, federal regulators face a statutory deadline of January 18 to establish the required rules.
The agency released its 376-page proposal in February, keeping it open for public comment through May. The draft covers the comprehensive life cycle of payment stablecoins, including:
- Reserve assets and redemption at par
- Liquidity and risk management
- Audits and custody
- Supervision and wind-down procedures for failed issuers
Anti-money-laundering and sanctions requirements were separated into distinct rulemakings coordinated alongside the Treasury Department. Under the GENIUS Act framework, only permitted issuers will be allowed to offer payment stablecoins to U.S. customers once the law takes full effect.
Additionally, Gould reported an eightfold increase in digital-asset chartering activity under the current administration compared with the prior administration.
