12 U.S. Code § 5916 - Exception for foreign payment stablecoin issuers and reciprocity for payment stablecoins issued in overseas jurisdictions

(a) In general

The prohibitions under section 5902 of this title shall not apply to a foreign payment stablecoin issuer if all of the following apply:

(1) The foreign payment stablecoin issuer is subject to regulation and supervision by a foreign payment stablecoin regulator of a foreign country, a territory of the United States, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, or the Virgin Islands that has a regulatory and supervisory regime with respect to payment stablecoins that the Secretary of the Treasury determines, pursuant to subsection (b), is comparable to the regulatory and supervisory regime established under this chapter, including, in particular, the requirements under section 5903(a) of this title.

(2) The foreign payment stablecoin issuer is registered with the Comptroller pursuant to subsection (c).

(3) The foreign payment stablecoin issuer holds reserves in a United States financial institution sufficient to meet liquidity demands of United States customers, unless otherwise permitted under a reciprocal arrangement established pursuant to subsection (d).

(4) The foreign country in which the foreign payment stablecoin issuer is domiciled and regulated is not subject to comprehensive economic sanctions by the United States or in a jurisdiction that the Secretary of the Treasury has determined to be a jurisdiction of primary money laundering concern.

(b) Treasury determination

(1) In general

The Secretary of the Treasury may make a determination as to whether a foreign country has a regulatory and supervisory regime that is comparable to the requirements established under this chapter, including the requirements under section 5903(a) of this title. The Secretary of the Treasury may make such a determination only upon a recommendation from each other member of the Stablecoin Certification Review Committee. Prior to such determination taking effect, the Secretary of the Treasury shall publish in the Federal Register a justification for such determination, including how the foreign country’s regulatory and supervisory regime is comparable to the requirements established under this chapter, including the requirements under section 5903(a) of this title.

(2) Request

A foreign payment stablecoin issuer or a foreign payment stablecoin regulator may request from the Secretary of the Treasury a determination under paragraph (1).

(3) Timing for determination

If a foreign payment stablecoin issuer or foreign payment stablecoin regulator requests a determination under paragraph (2), the Secretary of the Treasury shall render a decision on the determination not later than 210 days after the receipt of a substantially complete determination request.

(4) Rescission of determination

(A) In general

The Secretary of the Treasury may, in consultation with the Federal payment stablecoin regulators, rescind a determination made under paragraph (1), if the Secretary determines that the regulatory regime of such foreign country is no longer comparable to the requirements established under this chapter. Prior to such rescission taking effect, the Secretary of the Treasury shall publish in the Federal Register a justification for the rescission.

(B) Limited safe harbor

If the Secretary of the Treasury rescinds a determination pursuant to subparagraph (A), a digital asset service provider shall have 90 days before the offer or sale of a payment stablecoin issued by the foreign payment stablecoin issuer that is the subject of the rescinded determination shall be in violation of section 5902 of this title.

(5) Public notice

The Secretary of the Treasury shall keep and make publicly available a current list of foreign countries for which a determination under paragraph (1) has been made.

(6) Rulemaking

Not later than 1 year after July 18, 2025, the Secretary of the Treasury shall issue such rules as may be required to carry out this section.

(c) Registration and ongoing monitoring

(1) Registration

(A) In general

A foreign payment stablecoin issuer may offer or sell payment stablecoins using a digital asset service provider if the foreign payment stablecoin issuer is registered with the Comptroller.

(B) Registration approval

A registration of a foreign payment stablecoin issuer filed in accordance with this section shall be deemed approved on the date that is 30 days after the date the Comptroller receives the registration, unless the Comptroller notifies the foreign payment stablecoin issuer in writing that such registration has been rejected.

(C) Standards for rejection

In determining whether to reject a foreign payment stablecoin issuer’s registration, the Comptroller shall consider [1]

(i) the final determination of the Secretary of the Treasury under this section;

(ii) the financial and managerial resources of the United States operations of the foreign payment stablecoin issuer;

(iii) whether the foreign payment stablecoin issuer will provide adequate information to the Comptroller as the Comptroller determines is necessary to determine compliance with this chapter;

(iv) whether the foreign payment stablecoin presents a risk to the financial stability of the United States; and

(v) whether the foreign payment stablecoin issuer presents illicit finance risks to the United States.

(D) Procedure for appeal

If the Comptroller rejects a registration, not later than 30 days after the date of receipt of such rejection, the foreign payment stablecoin issuer may appeal the rejection by notifying the Comptroller of the request to appeal.

(E) Rulemaking

Pursuant to section 5913 of this title, the Comptroller shall issue rules relating to the standards for approval of registration requests and the process for appealing denials of such registration requests.

(F) Public notice

The Comptroller shall keep and make publicly available a current list of foreign payment stablecoin issuer registrations that have been approved.

(2) Ongoing monitoring

A foreign payment stablecoin issuer shall ¹

(A) be subject to reporting, supervision, and examination requirements as determined by the Comptroller; and

(B) consent to United States jurisdiction relating to the enforcement of this chapter.

(3) Lack of compliance

(A) Comptroller action

The Comptroller may, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, rescind approval of a registration of a foreign payment stablecoin issuer under this subsection if the Comptroller determines that the foreign payment stablecoin issuer is not in compliance with the requirements of this chapter, including for maintaining insufficient reserves or posing an illicit finance risk or financial stability risk. Prior to such rescission taking effect, the Comptroller shall publish in the Federal Register a justification for the rescission.

(B) Secretary action

The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Comptroller, may revoke a registration of a foreign payment stablecoin issuer under this subsection if the Secretary determines that reasonable grounds exist for concluding that the foreign payment stablecoin issuer presents economic sanctions evasion, money laundering, or other illicit finance risks, or, as applicable, violations, or facilitation thereof.

(d) Reciprocity

(1) In general

The Secretary of the Treasury may create and implement reciprocal arrangements or other bilateral agreements between the United States and jurisdictions with payment stablecoin regulatory regimes that are comparable to the requirements established under this chapter. The Secretary of the Treasury shall consider whether the jurisdiction’s requirements for payment stablecoin issuers include ¹

(A) similar requirements to those under section 5903(a) of this title;

(B) adequate anti-money laundering and counter-financing of terrorism program and sanction compliance standards; and

(C) adequate supervisory and enforcement capacity to facilitate international transactions and interoperability with United States dollar-denominated payment stablecoins issued overseas.

(2) Publication

Not later than 90 days prior to the entry into force of any arrangement or agreement under paragraph (1), the Secretary of the Treasury shall publish the arrangement or agreement in the Federal Register.

(3) Completion

The Secretary of the Treasury should complete the arrangements under this subsection not later than the date that is 2 years after July 18, 2025.

(Pub. L. 119–27, § 18, July 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 463.)

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[1]  So in original. Probably should be followed by a dash.

Delayed Effective Date of Section

For delayed effective date of section, see Effective Date note below.

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsecs. (a)(1), (b)(1), (4)(A), (c)(1)(C)(iii), (2)(A), (3)(A), and (d)(1), was in the original “this Act”, meaning Pub. L. 119–27, July 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 419, known as the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act and also as the GENIUS Act, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 5901 of this title and Tables.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section effective on the earlier of the date that is 18 months after July 18, 2025, or the date that is 120 days after the date on which the primary Federal payment stablecoin regulators issue any final regulations implementing Pub. L. 119–27, see section 20 of Pub. L. 119–27, set out as a note under section 5901 of this title.