Today the U.S. just took its biggest step yet toward regulating crypto
The GENIUS Act is now law and it is focused on stablecoins
This will completely reshape how $USDC, $USDT, and every other dollar-backed token operates in the U.S.
Here is what’s changing:
Only licensed banks, credit unions, or government-approved fintechs can issue payment stablecoins
That means no more “launch a stablecoin from your basement” era
Stablecoins must be fully backed 1:1 with cash, Fed balances, or short-term treasuries
Plus:
- Monthly audits
- Strict KYC/AML
- Freeze capability
- No FDIC mislabeling
- Priority payouts to users in bankruptcy
This gives U.S. based players like Circle a huge compliance advantage
Meanwhile, offshore giants like $USDT may face more pressure or even blocks if they don’t play by the rule
It also paves the way for JPMorgan, PayPal, and even Apple or Google to launch regulated digital dollars
Stablecoins are no longer just crypto, they are infrastructure
$150b+ is circulating. $USDT does more volume than Visa some days
The U.S. wants control
This is good for trust and adoption but bad for startups, DeFi, and decentralisation
Welcome to new era of crypto