[U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency Finalizes GENIUS Act Stablecoin Regulatory Rules, Effective January 18, 2027] According to The Block, the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) on Wednesday released the final rules for implementing the GENIUS Act, becoming the first regulatory agency to complete the formulation of stablecoin regulatory rules under the act. The new rules will take effect on January 18, 2027. The rules establish a regulatory framework for approved stablecoin issuers, providing a pathway for banks and non-bank institutions to conduct payment stablecoin business, and clarify standards related to foreign stablecoin issuers and asset custody. The final rules require stablecoin issuance to comply with standards for reserve backing, redemption, and risk management. Compared to the previous proposal, the new rules do not include presumptive violation clauses targeting specific business relationships between issuers and third parties. However, regulatory officials stated that the OCC will still evaluate such arrangements on a case-by-case basis and retains the authority to take enforcement actions against behaviors that circumvent the requirements of the act.