Stablecoin Issuance Gets Federal Guardrails Under New Proposal
The U.S. National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) has issued its first proposed rules under the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for US Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act, outlining a federal licensing pathway for payment stablecoin issuers affiliated with federally insured credit unions.
Key Takeaways
- NCUA proposes a new Permitted Payment Stablecoin Issuer (PPSI) license for subsidiaries of federally insured credit unions.
- Credit unions would be prohibited from issuing stablecoins directly or engaging with unlicensed issuers.
- The framework introduces a federal supervisory pathway aligned with the GENIUS Act’s implementation timeline.
The move marks a structural step in the post-GENIUS Act regulatory rollout, signaling how U.S. authorities intend to integrate stablecoin issuance into the federally supervised financial system without allowing direct balance-sheet exposure for insured credit unions.
Licensing Structure for Credit Union-Affiliated Stablecoin Activity
Under the proposal, subsidiaries of federally insured credit unions (FICUs) would be required to obtain designation as an NCUA Permitted Payment Stablecoin Issuer (PPSI) before issuing payment stablecoins. Direct issuance by the credit unions themselves would not be permitted. Instead, issuance activity would need to occur through separately supervised entities, such as credit union service organizations or comparable subsidiaries.
Today, NCUA moved forward with its plans to implement the GENIUS Act. The agency announced a proposed rule outlining the framework for credit union subsidiaries seeking approval to become a permitted payment stablecoin issuer. To learn more, visit: https://t.co/iDYzQ3zPxF
— The NCUA (@TheNCUA) February 11, 2026
The proposal also restricts capital relationships: federally insured credit unions would be barred from investing in or extending credit to any payment stablecoin issuer that does not hold the required PPSI license. This effectively creates a closed supervisory perimeter in which only NCUA-approved entities can interact with insured institutions in stablecoin-related activities.
Application Standards and Supervisory Timelines
Subsidiaries seeking PPSI status would need to demonstrate financial soundness, appropriate governance structures, and viable business models. The agency indicates that applications must receive action within 120 days, with automatic approval triggered if no decision is issued within that window.
The draft framework emphasizes technological neutrality. Applications cannot be denied solely because a stablecoin is deployed on an open, public, or decentralized blockchain network, reflecting an effort to separate network architecture from supervisory eligibility.
A 60-day public comment period will begin following publication in the Federal Register, with comments expected to close around mid-April 2026. The GENIUS Act mandates full regulatory implementation by July 18, 2026, placing this proposal within a defined legislative timeline.
Balance-Sheet Separation and Risk Containment
The structure reinforces a policy objective of isolating stablecoin issuance risk from the insured balance sheets of credit unions. By requiring activity to occur through licensed subsidiaries, the NCUA preserves a firewall between federally backed deposits and digital asset issuance operations.
Federally insured credit unions collectively serve approximately 144 million members and manage about $2.38 trillion in assets, according to mid-2025 figures. More than 4,000 institutions fall under NCUA supervision. Bringing stablecoin-linked subsidiaries into a licensing regime therefore represents a measurable expansion of federal oversight into a segment that intersects with both retail financial services and digital asset infrastructure.
Next Phase of GENIUS Act Implementation
The NCUA indicated that this proposal represents the first stage of rulemaking. A forthcoming regulatory package is expected to address additional GENIUS Act standards, including 1:1 reserve backing requirements with U.S. currency or highly liquid assets, capital and liquidity thresholds, anti–illicit finance controls, information technology risk management, redemption procedures, and monthly reserve disclosure obligations.
While Bitcoin and other digital assets remain reference points for broader market risk appetite, stablecoins increasingly function as settlement infrastructure within the crypto ecosystem. The proposed framework suggests that U.S. policymakers are moving toward formalizing issuance standards for institutions connected to the traditional financial system rather than leaving participation to loosely defined structures.
The rulemaking signals a shift toward federally supervised participation in stablecoin markets by credit union-affiliated entities, while maintaining structural safeguards around insured institutions. As implementation progresses toward the GENIUS Act’s statutory deadline, licensing standards and supervisory mechanics are likely to shape how traditional financial cooperatives interface with digital payment tokens.
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With over 6 years of experience in the world of financial markets and cryptocurrencies, Teodor Volkov provides in-depth analyses, up-to-date news, and strategic forecasts for investors and enthusiasts. His professionalism and sense of market trends make the information he shares reliable and valuable for everyone who wants to make informed decisions.
