US speeds up stablecoin rules: OCC aims to finalize GENIUS Act regulations by October 31
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US speeds up stablecoin rules: OCC aims to finalize GENIUS Act regulations by October 31
The US banking regulator is in a hurry with stablecoins. Jonathan Gould, head of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), said at DC Fintech Week on October 15, 2026, that the agency expects to finalize the rules under the GENIUS Act by October 31.
The previous target was November. The rules have not been adopted yet: this is about the regulator's plans, not a finished document.
What the OCC proposed in the draft rules
The OCC published the draft in February 2026. It sets out requirements for reserves, capital, audits and supervision.
Anti-money laundering and sanctions requirements will come as a separate rule. The OCC is preparing it together with the US Treasury.
What | Status |
OCC draft rules | Published in February 2026 |
Reserves, capital, audits, supervision | Included in the OCC draft |
Money laundering and sanctions | Separate rule with the Treasury |
Final OCC rules | Target - October 31, 2026 instead of November |
Law takes effect | January 18, 2027 or 120 days after the final rules, whichever comes first |
When the GENIUS Act takes effect
The law takes effect on January 18, 2027, or 120 days after regulators issue final rules - whichever comes first.
Counting from October 31, the 120 days run out at the end of February 2027, which is later than the January date. So the OCC's acceleration gives the market about two and a half months to prepare under finished rules.
Why this is good news for stablecoins
Dollar stablecoins in the US are getting a clear federal regime. Reserves, capital and audits are defined by rules, not just by issuer promises.
In our view, this is what changes most for users. Trust in a stablecoin rests on confidence that every coin is backed by reserves, and federal requirements make that confidence verifiable.
We believe clear rules will, over time, bring more banks and institutional money into stablecoins.
What this means for arbitrage
Stablecoins are the base currency of cross-exchange arbitrage. Traders hold capital in them between trades, move money from exchange to exchange through them and calculate spreads in them.
From what we see, when there are doubts about reserves, a stablecoin starts trading at a discount on some venues. The more transparent the regime, the rarer such episodes, and the more comfortable it is to keep working capital in stablecoins.
Our tools
When a stablecoin slips away from the dollar on one venue, you can only see it by comparing dozens of exchanges in one window. Our arbitrage screener keeps dozens of venues in one window, refreshes quotes every second and shows each gap together with the volume actually behind it. The spread calculator helps you check what survives fees, network costs and slippage at your size. The bot is fully manual. It never connects to your exchange API keys.
To test the tools on a live market, ArbitrageScanner offers one day of free access to the whole ecosystem.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
1. What is the GENIUS Act?
A US law on stablecoins. Regulators, including the OCC, are writing rules under it on reserves, capital, audits and supervision.
2. When will the OCC adopt the stablecoin rules?
Jonathan Gould said on October 15 that the OCC expects to finalize the rules by October 31, 2026. The earlier target was November, and the rules have not been adopted yet.
3. When does the GENIUS Act take effect?
On January 18, 2027, or 120 days after regulators issue final rules, whichever comes first.
4. What will the stablecoin rules change for arbitrage traders?
They do not affect spreads directly. But dollar stablecoins in the US get a clear regime, and keeping working capital in them becomes more comfortable.
Conclusion
The OCC expects to finalize the GENIUS Act rules by October 31, ahead of the November target. The draft with requirements for reserves, capital, audits and supervision was published in February, and the money laundering and sanctions rules will come separately together with the Treasury.
The law itself will take effect no later than January 18, 2027. For the market, it is a step toward transparent dollar stablecoins, and for an arbitrage trader - less uncertainty in the currency they hold their capital in.
IMPORTANT! We are software developers. We do not give recommendations or promises of earnings and we do not advise you to invest your money anywhere. Our software is fully manual, all your money stays under your own control. We show examples of how our clients have earned on arbitrage in the past, but we do not advise repeating those actions one to one. Your earnings depend solely on your own actions and on market factors.
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