Circle has formally supported stricter regulatory standards for stablecoin issuers in the U.S. under the proposed GENIUS Act framework. In a comment letter to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), Circle backed the establishment of a licensing regime for payment stablecoins, emphasizing areas like reserve management and risk controls. Circle, the issuer of the USDC stablecoin, highlighted the importance of integrating stablecoins into the broader financial system as their role in payments grows. The GENIUS Act aims to create a formal regulatory structure for dollar-backed stablecoins, requiring issuers to operate as standalone entities with full reserve backing and strong compliance systems. Circle urged that U.S. standards should set a global benchmark, advocating for equal regulatory requirements for all stablecoin issuers to prevent regulatory arbitrage. The company stressed the need for robust consumer protection and risk management frameworks, distinguishing stablecoins from tokenized bank deposits. The OCC's rulemaking process represents a significant step in formalizing stablecoin oversight in the U.S., with industry feedback, including Circle's, expected to influence the final framework. This could have global implications for how digital dollars are issued and used.