Stablecoin

US Representative Stephen Lynch challenged Federal Reserve Vice Chair Michelle Bowman on December 2, 2025, regarding her earlier remarks about banks engaging with digital assets. The FDIC is expected to release its first stablecoin oversight framework under the GENIUS Act later this month, establishing national standards for bank-linked issuers.

Rep. Bryan Steil questioned federal regulators on their progress implementing the GENIUS stablecoin law during a House Financial Services Committee hearing Tuesday. The legislation, which became law July 18, requires agencies to establish rules within one year. FDIC Acting Chair Travis Hill announced plans to propose implementation rules this month, while NCUA Chairman Kyle Hauptman confirmed regulators are committed to the July 18, 2026 deadline.

Ten major European banks have formed Qivalis, a Dutch-based entity, to launch a regulated euro stablecoin in the second half of 2026. The consortium includes BNP Paribas, ING, UniCredit, and seven other lenders. Qivalis is seeking an Electronic Money Institution license from the Dutch central bank to issue a fully backed token under the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets framework.

A wallet holding 40,000 ETH since Ethereum's 2015 ICO activated after over 10 years of inactivity. The holder deposited the entire balance, valued at $120 million, to the Ethereum Beacon Chain for staking rather than selling during the market downturn.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is launching regulatory reforms to restore competitiveness in American capital markets, with blockchain firms serving as initial test cases. Chair Paul Atkins outlined a strategy prioritizing IPO pipeline expansion and introducing an "innovation exemption" framework that allows crypto companies to release products under supervision before completing full compliance reviews. The reforms are expected to commence within one month following delays caused by the government shutdown.

Circle has partnered with OpenMind to implement the x402 payment protocol for autonomous machine transactions using USDC stablecoin. The collaboration will integrate USDC into OpenMind's robotics and AI platform for microtransactions between AI agents. OpenMind secured $20M in funding led by Pantera Capital in August 2025, with the project currently in early development stages.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation is advancing the first regulatory framework for stablecoin issuers under federal banking supervision. The FDIC's proposal establishes qualification requirements and approval mechanisms for companies issuing dollar-pegged tokens under the GENIUS Act. The rule is expected to be submitted to the House Financial Services Committee before the end of the month.

Israel's central bank announced stricter oversight rules for private stablecoin operators as the country prepares to roll out its digital shekel by 2026. Bank of Israel Governor Amir Yaron stated that new licensing, reserve, and reporting requirements will target firms serving local users, citing concerns over market concentration dominated by Tether and Circle.

Coinbase Institutional has expanded its COIN50 Index to include six digital assets: Hedera, Mantle, VeChain, Flare, Sei, and Immutable X. The additions reflect institutional interest in utility-focused blockchain projects and infrastructure platforms. The benchmark tracks the most investable assets available on Coinbase Exchange.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation will publish its first stablecoin regulatory proposal later this month, acting chair Travis Hill said. The framework will establish application procedures for issuers under the GENIUS Act, which assigns the FDIC oversight of bank-issued stablecoins. A second proposal on prudential standards is expected in early 2026.