US crypto & fintech regulation, in plain English
Every major rule from FinCEN, OCC, OFAC, the SEC and CFTC — explained, with who it affects and what to do. Free, always current, no signup.
Major rule trackers
The GENIUS Act: federal rules for payment stablecoins
Signed into law — illicit-finance rules being finalized (expected mid-2026)
The first major U.S. digital-asset law. It creates a federal licensing and supervision regime for payment-stablecoin issuers: 1:1 reserves in cash or short-dated Treasuries, bank-like safety-and-soundness standards, and full BSA/AML obligations. Treasury, FinCEN, and OFAC are now writing the implementing rules.
Open trackerU.S. Congress · SEC · CFTCThe CLARITY Act: who regulates crypto — the SEC or the CFTC?
Advancing through Congress — joint SEC/CFTC guidance already issued
The market-structure bill that aims to end the SEC-vs-CFTC turf war over crypto. It sets statutory rules for when a digital asset is a security (SEC) versus a digital commodity (CFTC), replacing years of enforcement-by-litigation with a defined regulatory perimeter.
Open trackerOFAC Adds New Individuals/Entities to SDN Blocked Persons List
OFAC has designated one or more persons to the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) List, blocking all U.S.-jurisdictional property and prohibiting U.S. persons from transacting with them. Crypto and fintech firms must screen customers, counterparties, and wallet addresses against the updated SDN List immediately, as facilitating transactions with blocked persons exposes firms to significant civil and criminal liability.
OFAC Publishes List of Medical Devices Requiring Special Authorization for North Korea Exports
OFAC has published a list of medical devices that are excluded from the general license permitting certain humanitarian exports to North Korea, meaning these specific items require individual authorization. While narrow in scope, compliance teams at firms handling any trade finance, payments, or cross-border transfers involving North Korea-related humanitarian transactions should be aware of these carve-outs. This is relevant to any institution that processes payments or financing for humanitarian aid programs touching North Korea.
OFAC Publishes General License 11 for ICC-Related Sanctions
OFAC has formally published General License 11 under the International Criminal Court-Related Sanctions Regulations, which was previously available only on its website. Publishing GLs in the Federal Register makes them part of the official regulatory record and may affect how firms document compliance with sanctions screening obligations. Compliance teams should update their sanctions program documentation to reference the formally published version of GL 11.
OFAC Formally Publishes Two New Iran General Licenses (U and V)
OFAC has published Iran-related General Licenses U and V in the Federal Register, formalizing authorizations that were previously posted only on OFAC's website. These GLs define specific categories of transactions that are permitted notwithstanding Iran sanctions. All firms subject to Iran sanctions obligations — including crypto exchanges, payment processors, and banks — should review the scope of GLs U and V to understand what, if any, transactions are now explicitly authorized.
OFAC Publishes Venezuela General Licenses 5U and 5V in Federal Register
OFAC has formally published General Licenses 5U and 5V under the Venezuela Sanctions Regulations, which were previously available only on OFAC's website. These licenses authorize certain transactions that would otherwise be prohibited under Venezuela sanctions. Firms handling payments, crypto transactions, or financial services with any Venezuela nexus should review these GLs to understand the scope of permitted activity.
OFAC Publishes Cyber-Related Sanctions General License 2 in Federal Register
OFAC has formally published General License 2 under the Cyber-Related Sanctions Regulations, which was previously available only on OFAC's website. This GL authorizes certain activities that would otherwise be prohibited under the cyber-related sanctions program, and its Federal Register publication provides official legal notice. Crypto firms, exchanges, and cybersecurity-adjacent fintech companies operating near sanctioned cyber actors should review the GL's scope and conditions to confirm any reliance on it is permissible.
OFAC Publishes Venezuela General Licenses 48A and 49A in Federal Register
OFAC has formally published General Licenses 48A and 49A under the Venezuela Sanctions Regulations, which were previously available only on OFAC's website. Formalizing these GLs in the Federal Register makes them part of the binding regulatory record. Compliance officers at institutions with any Venezuela-related exposure should review these licenses to confirm their transaction monitoring and sanctions screening remain aligned with the latest authorized activities.
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