Regulators ramp up US stablecoin rules as GENIUS Act takes effect

  • A second FDIC rule on prudential requirements will follow early next year.
  • The FDIC will supervise bank subsidiaries issuing payment stablecoins.
  • Guidance on tokenised deposits is under development.

US regulators are moving quickly to build the country’s new stablecoin supervision system, with federal agencies preparing detailed rulemaking as the GENIUS Act begins to shape policy.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation is set to publish an application framework for payment stablecoin issuers later this month, marking one of the earliest steps in implementing the law signed by President Donald Trump earlier this year.

Alongside the FDIC, the Federal Reserve, and the Treasury Department are working on their own regulatory responsibilities, signalling a coordinated effort to bring stablecoins under a clearer, more structured oversight regime.

FDIC develops licensing framework for stablecoin issuers

The FDIC has confirmed through written testimony scheduled for delivery to the House Financial Services Committee on December 2 that it is close to releasing a proposed rule outlining how payment stablecoin issuers will apply for approval.

The agency began the process earlier this year as part of its duty to implement the GENIUS Act, and the first formal proposal is expected before the end of the month.

Another proposal focusing on prudential requirements for FDIC-supervised issuers is planned for early next year.

Once the application framework is published, the agency will gather public comments before moving toward a final rule, a phase that typically spans several months.

GENIUS Act expands oversight for bank-linked stablecoins

The GENIUS Act introduces a national structure that requires federal and state regulators to coordinate their supervision of stablecoin issuers.

Under the law, the FDIC will oversee and license subsidiaries of insured depository institutions that issue payment stablecoins.

The agency will also set out capital rules, liquidity expectations, and reserve diversification standards.

Much of this work will roll out over the coming year, as several rulemakings are needed to meet the obligations laid out in the legislation.

The FDIC is also consulting recommendations released in July by the President’s Working Group on Digital Asset Markets, which urged regulators to clarify digital asset activities allowed for banks, including asset and liability tokenisation.

Tokenised deposits included in regulatory review

In addition to its stablecoin responsibilities, the FDIC is preparing new guidance aimed at clarifying how tokenised deposits will be treated under federal regulation.

This area has gained attention as banks explore digital versions of traditional deposit products.

The forthcoming guidance is expected to help institutions understand which activities fall within supervisory boundaries and how they will be monitored.

Federal Reserve coordinates its own stablecoin standards

The Federal Reserve will join the FDIC at Tuesday’s House hearing, with Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman detailing the central bank’s work on stablecoin rules.

The Federal Reserve is coordinating with other banking regulators to craft capital, liquidity, and diversification standards required under the GENIUS Act.

The focus includes creating clarity for banks engaged in digital asset activities and providing regulatory feedback on new use cases as they emerge.

This joint push aims to ensure the banking system can support digital asset development while maintaining stability and compliance.

Other agencies are also advancing their obligations under the GENIUS Act.

The Treasury Department has already completed its public consultations, which concluded in November, and is developing its own rules.

These efforts will run in parallel with the FDIC and Federal Reserve processes, contributing to the broader national framework being built to govern stablecoins across the US.

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EU introduces new crypto data-sharing rules for crypto-asset service providers

  • Crypto firms operating in the EU must report transactions and holdings in a standardised format.
  • Regulators will gain wider access to user data, raising privacy concerns.
  • ESMA may oversee major exchanges, centralising EU crypto supervision.

The European Union has unveiled a new set of rules that will significantly change how crypto-asset service providers operate across the bloc.

These changes are set to take effect on January 1, 2026, marking one of the EU’s most ambitious attempts to tighten control over crypto activities.

The rules will introduce standardised reporting requirements that will give tax authorities deeper visibility into the cryptocurrency market.

Tougher reporting requirements are coming

At the heart of the new framework is the expansion of the Directive on Administrative Cooperation, known as DAC8.

This update requires crypto exchanges, wallet providers, and other digital-asset operators to report customer holdings and transactions in a standardised digital format.

Once submitted, these reports will be automatically shared among EU tax authorities, enabling regulators to monitor crypto flows and trading activity more effectively.

The regulation, formalised under Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/2263, also mandates the creation of a comprehensive Crypto-Asset Operator register.

Each reporting operator will receive a unique 10-digit identification number, starting with an ISO country code, to simplify cross-border supervision.

Even when an operator is removed from the register, the information must be retained for up to 12 months, ensuring continuity in regulatory oversight.

Member states are expected to submit annual assessments to the European Commission using standardised reporting templates.

Privacy under the microscope

While the regulation is framed as a measure to combat tax fraud, financial crime, and market abuse, it raises significant privacy concerns for crypto users.

The Transfer of Funds Regulation, which extends the so-called “travel rule” to crypto transactions above €1,000, already requires identification of both senders and recipients, including interactions with self-hosted wallets.

Users may also be asked to verify ownership of their private wallets.

Combined with DAC8, these measures give regulators unprecedented insight into individual trading behaviour, wallet flows, and the activities of service providers.

The European Commission’s broader regulatory package works alongside the Markets in Crypto-Assets framework (MiCA) and upcoming anti-money laundering rules.

Large crypto operators will be expected to carry out detailed customer due diligence, report suspicious activities, and disclose energy consumption for their operations.

Supporters of the new rules, including ECB President Christine Lagarde, argue that a unified EU approach will replace fragmented national supervision, which has historically hindered consistent enforcement.

However, the plan to give the European Securities and Markets Authority direct oversight over major cross-border exchanges and clearing houses has drawn criticism from smaller financial hubs, including Luxembourg, Malta, and Ireland.

They warn that consolidating supervisory powers could raise compliance costs and disadvantage operators in smaller jurisdictions.

The Financial Stability Board, the G20’s leading financial watchdog, also recently noted that strict privacy laws worldwide often impede cross-border cooperation.

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Ripple stablecoin gains Abu Dhabi approval as UAE tightens crypto rules

  • RLUSD has been recognised as an Accepted Fiat-Referenced Token in the Abu Dhabi Global Market.
  • Ripple secured full regulatory approval to operate in the Dubai International Financial Centre in March.
  • The DFSA allowed RLUSD to be used inside the DIFC in June.

Ripple’s dollar-pegged stablecoin has gained new regulatory acceptance in the Middle East, adding another link between traditional finance and digital assets as the UAE moves to tighten oversight of decentralised finance and Web3.

The approval allows institutions operating in Abu Dhabi’s financial free zone to use RLUSD for regulated activity, reinforcing the country’s strategy of pairing innovation with clearer rulemaking.

As the UAE reshapes how payments, lending, and custody services operate across digital systems, Ripple’s position in the region is expanding through multiple regulated hubs that already host global financial firms.

ADGM adds RLUSD to regulated activities

Ripple announced on Thursday that RLUSD is now recognised as an Accepted Fiat-Referenced Token within the Abu Dhabi Global Market.

The financial centre sits on Al Maryah and Al Reem Islands and functions as an international free zone with its own regulatory framework.

The approval was issued by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority, which supervises activities conducted within the zone.

The decision means firms licensed by the regulator can use RLUSD for services that fall under permitted activities, provided they meet requirements set for fiat-referenced tokens.

These include rules linked to reserve management, transparency, and disclosures.

Ripple said RLUSD currently holds a market capitalisation above one billion dollars and is being adopted for uses such as collateral and payments.

RLUSD was launched in late 2024. It is pegged 1:1 to the US dollar and backed entirely by cash and equivalents.

The stablecoin is issued under a limited-purpose trust charter from the New York Department of Financial Services, which sets the conditions for custody and reserve safeguards.

Ripple widens presence across UAE financial hubs

The recognition in Abu Dhabi adds to Ripple’s regulatory progress across the UAE’s digital-asset ecosystem.

In October 2024, the company confirmed it was pursuing a licence from the Dubai Financial Services Authority to expand its services in the country.

It secured in-principle approval later that month as part of its plan to operate inside Dubai’s major financial zone.

By March, Ripple had received full regulatory approval to provide cross-border crypto payment services within the Dubai International Financial Centre.

The DIFC runs under its own rulebook and is widely used by global firms looking to serve markets across the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia.

In June, the DFSA permitted RLUSD to be used for regulated activities within the DIFC.

This allowed companies operating inside the zone to integrate the stablecoin into services involving payments and treasury functions.

Ripple also brought in Zand Bank and the fintech app Mamo as early adopters of Ripple Payments, its blockchain-powered system designed for institutional transfers.

UAE expands its national approach to crypto supervision

The UAE is now combining approvals inside its financial zones with a nationwide framework that brings more of the digital-asset market under central oversight.

Earlier this week, authorities introduced a new central bank law that formally places decentralised finance and a wide portion of Web3 activity within a regulated structure.

Federal Decree Law No. 6 of 2025 has been in force since September 2025.

It requires platforms, infrastructure providers, and protocols involved in lending, custody, exchanges, payments, or investment services to obtain licences from the Central Bank of the UAE by September 2026.

The move sets a unified expectation for businesses operating across digital finance.

Stablecoin use grows as rules become clearer

The combination of ADGM recognition, DIFC approval, and a nationwide regulatory framework positions RLUSD to play a larger role in institutional financial services across the UAE.

With regulated firms in multiple zones now able to use the stablecoin for defined activities, Ripple’s expansion reflects the broader shift in the country’s approach to digital assets.

The new law signals that the UAE is looking to support innovation while ensuring that digital-asset operations follow the standards applied to other financial services.

RLUSD’s clearance inside Abu Dhabi arrives at a moment when regulated stablecoins are increasingly used for settlement, payments, and collateral across international markets.

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Animoca Brands wins Abu Dhabi approval to launch regulated fund

  • Animoca must meet capital, compliance, and operational conditions before final approval.
  • The firm already secured in-principle approval for a crypto brokerage licence in Dubai in October.
  • Animoca’s portfolio spans more than 600 companies in web3 gaming, infrastructure, and digital rights.

Animoca Brands is taking a major step in its regulated expansion strategy as it secures initial approval to set up a fund management business in Abu Dhabi.

The move signals a deeper shift in how the company wants to operate across the Middle East, with a focus on building a structured, compliant base for its growing investment activities.

Abu Dhabi’s Financial Services Regulatory Authority granted the in-principle approval on November 24, giving the company a clear path toward full permission once it completes the required capital, compliance, and operational processes.

This early approval adds new direction to Animoca’s efforts to formalise its presence in a region that is fast becoming a centre for digital asset companies.

The firm sees the UAE as a growing market where regulated structures can attract both traditional investors and digital-native participants.

With operations already established in Dubai, the company is now tying its regional strategy to a framework that supports managed funds and institutional-grade products.

Investment expansion

The approval allows Animoca Brands to move closer to managing collective investment funds from within the UAE.

This is important for the business because it positions the firm to support institutional clients under a regulated environment.

Animoca already works across several areas of the web3 economy, including advisory services and investment activity, and it maintains a portfolio of more than 600 companies across gaming, infrastructure, digital property rights, and tokenised platforms.

A fund manager licence would give the company a structured base of operations for these investments, creating a unified location for regulated activities across its global network.

It also supports Animoca’s intention to build a wider footprint in markets where regulatory clarity is improving quickly.

By anchoring its investment work in Abu Dhabi, the firm is preparing for a future where compliant digital asset services will become more central to institutional adoption.

Regional licensing progress

Animoca Brands has been steadily expanding its regulatory presence in the Middle East.

In October, the firm secured in-principle approval for a crypto brokerage licence from Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority, allowing it to offer regulated trading services in the emirate.

The combination of approvals in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai shows how the company is shaping its regional strategy through recognised frameworks rather than informal or unregulated operations.

Alongside regulatory progress, Animoca is also working on tokenisation initiatives involving real-world assets.

A recent project involves a limited partnership fund developed with Hong Kong-listed DL Holdings, using the XRP Ledger to structure on-chain vehicles.

The company continues to add new programmes across education finance, token distribution, and web3 gaming, expanding the network of projects connected to its broader ecosystem.

Growing UAE digital assets focus

The UAE has become a priority destination for companies operating in the digital economy, and Animoca Brands is using this momentum to anchor its regulated activities in the region.

With clearer rules, new licensing pathways, and rising interest from global investors, the Middle East offers a strategic opportunity for businesses seeking compliant growth.

Animoca’s latest approval places the company at the centre of this shift as institutions look for regulated access to digital assets.

The firm’s chairman, Yat Siu, is scheduled to speak at the Global Blockchain Show 2025 in Abu Dhabi, highlighting the company’s role in regional discussions on digital asset development.

The new approval supports this engagement by giving Animoca a recognised path to expand its fund management and investment work as demand for regulated services continues to increase.

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Thailand’s Bitkub said to eye Hong Kong listing

  • Thai market weakness is influencing the company’s shift.
  • The potential fundraising amount is about $200 million.
  • IPO activity in Hong Kong is heading for a four-year high.

Bitkub is considering a potential listing in Hong Kong, as per a Bloomberg report, signalling how crypto companies across Asia are reassessing where to raise capital as regulatory frameworks and market performance continue to diverge.

The discussions suggest that regional players are increasingly looking beyond their home markets to tap investor interest and align with the region’s shifting regulatory map.

Hong Kong IPO plans

Experts say Bitkub may pursue the Hong Kong route as early as next year, although the plans remain under evaluation.

The company is studying how a listing there could support expansion and strengthen its position in a region where crypto regulation is evolving.

The potential deal size, under review as discussions continue, notes Bloomberg, is expected to be around 200 million dollars, though the final structure could change as conditions develop.

Thai market pressures

Thailand’s stock market conditions appear to be a central factor behind the shift.

The domestic exchange has struggled this year, posting one of the weakest performances globally.

New listings have seen a weighted average decline of more than 12%, placing pressure on companies looking to attract stable demand.

The SET Index has also fallen by about 10%, prompting some firms to explore more resilient capital markets across Asia.

Bitkub had previously explored a local listing, but the prolonged downturn has encouraged a reassessment of regional options with stronger liquidity.

Hong Kong digital assets push

Hong Kong has been positioning itself as a regulated centre for digital assets, aiming to regain ground lost during earlier market retreats.

The city has introduced a licensing framework for crypto platforms to create a clearer regulatory environment and support investor confidence.

Bloomberg states that officials are also working on measures that may encourage more exchanges and institutions to operate within the market, although overall trading activity remains quiet for now.

A Bitkub listing would contribute to the city’s plan to draw more international companies and expand its role in the Asian digital assets landscape.

Regional competition for listings

A listing by Bitkub would support Hong Kong’s wider efforts to attract firms from outside mainland China.

The city is heading for its strongest year for first-time share sales in four years, with Bloomberg estimating potential proceeds of more than $40 billion by year’s end.

For now, the consideration of a Hong Kong listing highlights how regional players are adapting to a rapidly changing environment.

As Asian markets refine their regulatory approaches and compete to establish stronger positions in digital assets, companies such as Bitkub are reassessing where their future growth and investor access may be best supported.

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