- The Federal Reserve proposed capital charges, redemption timelines, and reserve reporting rules for stablecoin issuers under the GENIUS Act.
- Issuers would face an operational-risk capital charge of up to 2% and must process redemptions within two business days.
- Monthly reserve reports would require CEO/CFO certification and examination by a registered public accounting firm.
- Fed Governor Michael Barr supported the proposal but called for stronger redemption guarantees during market stress.
The Federal Reserve on Thursday proposed capital, redemption and regulatory requirements for stablecoin issuers under its supervision, moving to implement the GENIUS Act. The law already requires issuers to maintain one-to-one reserves and limits their holdings to cash, bank deposits and short-term US Treasurys, as detailed in the legislation.
Issuers would face an operational-risk capital charge of 2% on the first $20 billion in stablecoins outstanding, 1.5% on the next $30 billion and 1% on amounts above $50 billion, according to the Fed proposal. They must generally process redemptions within two business days.
If reserves fall below the required one-to-one backing, an issuer must notify the Fed and either restore reserves under a remediation plan or liquidate them and redeem outstanding stablecoins. Issuers would also publish monthly reports detailing outstanding stablecoins and reserve composition, which must be examined by a registered public accounting firm and certified by the CEO and CFO.
A separate proposal would establish an application process for Fed-supervised banks seeking approval to issue payment stablecoins through subsidiaries, requiring a business plan and financial information. The proposals are open for public comment for 60 days after publication in the Federal Register.
Fed Governor Michael Barr supported the proposal but said further work is needed for stablecoins to become reliable payment instruments. “Stablecoins will only be stable if they can be reliably and promptly redeemed at par in a range of conditions, including during market stress,” Barr said in a statement. The GENIUS Act takes effect on Jan. 18, 2027, or 120 days after federal regulators issue final implementing rules, whichever comes first.
✅ Follow BITNEWSBOT on Telegram, Facebook, LinkedIn, X.com, and Google News for instant updates.
