FDIC Approves New Stablecoin Regulatory Rules, Implementing the Prudent Framework of the 《GENIUS Act》

On April 7, the FDIC Board of Directors approved a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, aiming to implement the relevant requirements and standards of the GENIUS Act (Guidelines for Stablecoin Innovation and the National Uniform Standards Act). This marks an important advancement at the federal level in the United States for the stablecoin regulatory framework, and it is also the FDIC’s second rulemaking process related to this Act.

Building a Prudent Regulatory Framework for Payment Stablecoin Issuers

According to an official FDIC announcement, this proposed rule will establish a comprehensive prudential framework for payment stablecoin issuers regulated by the FDIC, covering multiple key regulatory requirements, including reserve asset management, redemption mechanisms, capital adequacy ratios, and risk management standards.

The core purpose of this framework is to ensure that stablecoin issuers maintain sufficient reserve assets to support the value of the tokens they issue, while also having sound risk control capabilities. For the stablecoin industry, which has long lacked a clearly defined federal regulatory framework, the issuance of this rule will provide market participants with a clearer compliance path.

IDI Stablecoin Custody Services Included in the Regulations

In addition to regulations for stablecoin issuers, the proposed rule will also establish corresponding requirements for Insured Depository Institutions (Insured Depository Institution, IDI) that provide stablecoin custody and safekeeping services. This means that if traditional banks participate in stablecoin-related businesses, they must also follow the new regulatory standards.

Worth noting is that, in this rulemaking, the FDIC has explicitly clarified two important legal positions. First, pass-through insurance for deposit insurance will apply to deposits used as stablecoin reserves, providing stablecoin holders with additional asset protection. Second, the FDIC clarifies that tokenized deposits that meet the statutory definition of “deposits” will be treated the same as other types of traditional deposits, and will not be subject to different treatment because of their digitalized form.

GENIUS Act Regulatory Pieces Coming Together Step by Step

This is not the first time the FDIC has conducted rulemaking regarding the GENIUS Act. As early as December 19, 2025, the FDIC had already issued an initial related rule establishing the application process for insured depository institutions to issue stablecoins through subsidiaries. The proposed rule approved this time is part of the second phase, focusing on more specific prudential regulatory standards, so that the overall regulatory framework will be more complete.

The full name of the GENIUS Act is “Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act.” It is an important piece of legislation by the U.S. Congress to establish a federal regulatory framework for stablecoins. The gradual implementation of the bill indicates that the United States is accelerating the construction of a compliance ecosystem for stablecoins, seeking to strike a balance between encouraging innovation and protecting consumers.

A 60-Day Public Comment Period Begins

The FDIC said that after this proposed rule is officially published in the Federal Register, a 60-day public comment period will be opened. During this period, industry participants, academic institutions, consumer advocacy groups, and the general public can all submit comments and suggestions regarding the rule’s content. After reviewing all comments, the FDIC will determine the form of the final rule.

For the cryptocurrency industry, the stablecoin regulatory rules released in succession by the FDIC have sent clear policy signals: U.S. regulators are building an institutionalized operational framework for stablecoins with an active but cautious approach. With the regulatory environment becoming increasingly clear, it is expected to attract more traditional financial institutions into the stablecoin market, further promoting the mainstream adoption of digital assets.

This article, “FDIC Approves New Stablecoin Regulatory Rules to Implement the Prudent Framework of the GENIUS Act,” first appeared on Chain News ABMedia.