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Fed’s Barr Calls for Stronger Stablecoin Guardrails Under GENIUS Act

His DC Fintech Week warning targets risky reserve eligibility plus fragmented oversight.

Overview

  • Michael Barr said the statute permits reserve assets such as uninsured deposits, certain foreign instruments, and potential Bitcoin repo that could break one‑to‑one backing under stress.
  • He cautioned that private money is prone to runs and that issuers may be unable to liquidate assets promptly at par during market turmoil.
  • Barr urged tighter coordination between federal agencies and state regimes to avoid inconsistent enforcement and regulatory arbitrage.
  • He acknowledged that stablecoins could improve payments efficiency if supported by credible, enforceable consumer protections and risk controls.
  • Recent reporting cited IMF findings that stablecoin run dynamics could spill over into bank deposits and government bond markets, including U.S. Treasurys.