OCC Plans to Release Final Stablecoin Rules Before November

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) plans to announce the final rules regarding stablecoin payments before November. This signal was given by Jonathan Gould during the Wyoming Blockchain Symposium on August 19. Gould stated that the agency aims to expedite the release of the final version of the regulation and begin processing applications in the new year. A report released by the OCC indicates that the agency is focused on adhering to this timeline. The GENIUS Act, signed in July 2025, established a federal framework for payment stablecoins, with a statutory deadline for federal agencies to complete the rules by July; however, the OCC has yet to issue the final rules. In February, the OCC released a 376-page proposal concerning its authority on the matter, along with capital and liquidity requirements related to risk management, posing over 200 questions that were open for public comment until May 1. The materials discussed reserve requirements, compliance behaviors, and capital standards similar to those of banks, applicable to both licensed banks and non-bank applicants. Gould mentioned that the final version will be published after analyzing industry feedback. Other regulatory bodies are also advancing coordinated proposals, with the Treasury Department issuing a notice on August 17 regarding the proposed rulemaking for the implementation of Section 3 of the GENIUS Act and initiating public comments.