FDIC clears U.S. banks to issue Dollar stablecoins under GENIUS Act

For years, the U.S. banking system and the world of stablecoins lived in two separate realities: one governed by strict Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation(FDIC) oversight and the other by the “wild west” of decentralized finance. And, finally, that wall just came down. Following the landmark GENIUS Act signed earlier this year, the FDIC has officially moved from observer to architect.FDIC’s new stablecoin ruleBy approving a new proposed rule on the 16th of December, the agency has provided the first-ever “instruction manual” for banks to issue their own dollar-backed stablecoins. This isn’t just a regulatory update, but rather an invitation for the U.S. dollar to live directly on the blockchain, backed by the full banking system.As expected, Counsel Nicholas Simons had put it best when he said,“In sum, the proposed rule would allow the FDIC to evaluate the safety and soundness of proposed payment stablecoin activities while minimizing the regulatory burden on the applicant.”In short, this framework mandates the use of dedicated subsidiaries to wall off digital asset volatility from core banking functions.What are banks supposed to do?To comply with the FDIC’s new standards, banks must now demonstrate transparent ownership structures. They are also required to provide audited assurances showing that every digital dollar is fully backed by cash or U.S. Treasuries.Meanwhile, under the GENIUS Act, “Payment Stablecoins” occupy a unique legal middle ground.They can be used for payments and settlement, but they are classified as neither legal tender nor traditional deposits.This distinction is important. It allows the FDIC, currently led by Acting Chairman and Trump nominee Travis Hill, to oversee digital payments without the need to rewrite existing deposit insurance rules.Remarking on which, Hill said,“Under the proposal, the FDIC would adopt a tailored application process that would enable the FDIC to evaluate the safety and soundness of an applicant’s proposed activities based on the statutory factors while minimizing the regulatory burden on applicants.”Repercussions of not following the FDIC orderUnder the new rules, the agency must act quickly. It has a strict 30‑day window to verify applications and a 120‑day deadline to issue a final decision.If regulators fail to respond within that timeframe, the application is automatically approved “by operation of law.” This aggressive clause is meant to prevent the kind of silent delays, often called “regulation by pocket‑veto”, that have long frustrated the crypto industry.At the same time, banks are preparing their subsidiaries for compliance. To ease the transition, a temporary 12‑month safe harbor provides a crucial “soft launch” period.During this time, early movers can test operations and resolve issues under limited regulatory waivers.Visa’s race to finishNow, while the FDIC lays the groundwork, private giants are already racing to dominate the stablecoin payment rail.Visa has opened its U.S. network to Circle’s USDC on Solana, enabling near-instant, 24/7 settlement and directly challenging the traditional T+3 cycle.Analysts are also estimating that stablecoins could process over $50 trillion annually by 2030, triple Visa’s 2024 volume.Meanwhile, Mastercard is responding with a $2 billion move to acquire Zero Hash and embed similar capabilities.Stablecoin’s current dynamics in the U.S.All this combined shows that the stablecoins have rapidly evolved from niche trading tools into a global settlement layer, with over 200 million unique holders and on-chain volumes increasingly independent of broader crypto volatility.Therefore, by the GENIUS Act’s full enforcement in 2027, the line between a “crypto network” and a “financial rail” may disappear entirely.In conclusion, the message for banks and fintechs is clear: the digital dollar isn’t coming; it has already arrived.Final ThoughtsThe FDIC’s new framework marks a historic shift, pulling digital dollars out of the regulatory gray zone and into the core of the U.S. banking system.Strict approval timelines and automatic approvals raise the stakes, forcing regulators to act quickly and preventing past “slow-walk” regulatory tactics.