Under President Donald Trump’s second term in the White House, the past few months have seen significant progress on crypto and specifically stablecoin legislation, with key industry players promising a significant shift from the previous administration’s approach.
One key voice joining the support for pro-stablecoin legislation is Ivan Soto-Wright, CEO of MoonPay, who advocates for a balanced approach that does not marginalize state-regulated stablecoin issuers.
Concerns Raised Over ‘Federal Favoritism’ In Stablecoin Legislation
In a letter sent to the leadership of the Senate Banking Committee and the House Financial Services Committee, Soto-Wright expressed his support for the Conference of State Bank Supervisors (CSBS) and the proposed amendments it introduced to two significant pieces of legislation: the House’s STABLE Act and the Senate’s GENIUS Act.
As reported by Fox Journalist Eleanor Terret, these two amendments aim to ensure that state and federal stablecoin issuers can operate on an equal footing.
Soto-Wright raised concerns that the current drafts of the legislation favor federal Payment Stablecoin Issuers (PSIs) at the expense of state-regulated entities. He argued:
As currently drafted, the bill stacks the deck in favor of federal PSIs. It is essential to preserve viable state pathways… consistent with the dual federal-state regime that has enabled innovation and protected consumers for years.
While the legislation aims to clarify the regulatory landscape for payment stablecoins, industry stakeholders have criticized both bills for potentially consolidating too much authority within federal oversight, particularly under the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.
Soto-Wright, along with the Conference of State Bank Supervisors, is advocating for amendments to ensure a competitive, safe, and consumer-first market.
The CSBS has echoed these sentiments in its own letter, warning that without necessary adjustments, the proposed legislation could hamper the competitiveness of state-regulated firms on a national level.
Key Legislative Actions Ahead
Market expert Ron Hammond has also highlighted several key legislative actions expected in the coming weeks. In a recent update on X (formerly Twitter), he noted that the House Financial Services Committee will discuss the STABLE Act.
This legislation aims to create a regulatory framework for stablecoins and is anticipated to garner significant bipartisan support, with notable alignment between Democratic and Republican lawmakers.
Five weeks prior, the Senate successfully passed its version of the stablecoin legislation, the GENIUS Act, with a vote of 18-6. The next crucial step involves reconciling the differences between the two bills in both chambers before a final vote can be conducted in Congress.
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