U.S. Senate Passes Stablecoin Regulation 'GENIUS Act'
On June 17, the U.S. Senate passed the 'Guidance and Establishment of the American Stablecoin National Innovation Act' (GENIUS Act) by a vote of 51 to 23. The bill has been sent to the House of Representatives for review. This vote follows the conclusion of debate on June 11, which ended with a vote of 68 to 30, initiating a 30-hour mandatory countdown to push for a final vote.
Tennessee Republican Senator Bill Hagerty, the main sponsor of the bill, called this vote a "great victory for America." Hagerty stated on social media platform X that the GENIUS Act establishes the first regulatory framework conducive to the development of payment stablecoins.
Hagerty pointed out that the implementation of the GENIUS Act will solidify the dollar's position, protect consumers, increase demand for government bonds, and ensure that the U.S. maintains control over digital asset innovation. He emphasized that linking stablecoins to cash or short-term government bonds combines the stability of the dollar with the speed of blockchain, achieving instant settlement and opening up a new generation of payment methods.
He also predicted that by 2030, stablecoin issuers could become the largest holders of government bonds globally, enhancing fiscal resilience. The GENIUS Act also requires stablecoin issuers to hold reserves equal to the number of tokens in circulation, limited to short-term U.S. government bonds or insured deposits, and prohibits issuers from earning profits. Additionally, reserves must be kept in separate accounts, and issuers must maintain compliance plans, perform customer due diligence, and report suspicious activities.
The bill also stipulates that entities with liabilities exceeding $10 billion must obtain federal charters; smaller issuers can operate under state systems that meet federal standards but are still subject to joint review by federal regulators. Furthermore, the Treasury Department will be required to publish quarterly audit templates, and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) will be granted limited enforcement authority over the spot market.
Meanwhile, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that the new cryptocurrency stablecoin regulations would help lower government borrowing costs, reduce national debt, and enable millions of users worldwide to use dollar-denominated digital currencies. With the Senate passing the GENIUS Act, the public is now looking forward to the final review outcome in the House of Representatives.
