[OCC Finalizes GENIUS Act Stablecoin Rules; Bessent Calls it a Watershed Moment for the Financial Industry] Golden Finance reports that the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) has finalized its stablecoin regulatory rules for implementing the GENIUS Act. These rules apply to certain custody activities of issuers of stablecoins that permit payments, foreign issuers under the OCC's jurisdiction, and regulated entities, covering reserve backing, redemption, and risk management. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called the GENIUS Act a "watershed moment for the U.S. financial industry," drawing parallels to Lincoln's National Monetary Act of 1863—which established the federal framework for stablecoin payments in the digital age. The OCC's final rule advances this landmark legislation. The final rule does not include provisions on bank secrecy laws, anti-money laundering, and OFAC sanctions; these will be addressed through subsequent rules coordinated with the Treasury Department. The GENIUS Act is scheduled to be signed into law in July 2025, and regulators missed the July 18, 2026 deadline for finalizing the rules; the Federal Reserve has already proposed two related rules in September 2026. Both the GENIUS Act and the OCC final rule are scheduled to take effect on January 18, 2027. The OCC has not yet announced the timeline for accepting issuer applications and exemption requests.