OCC urges small US banks to join stablecoin market before new licensing rules in 2027

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), the primary regulator for national banks in the United States, has called on small and community banks to consider joining the payment stablecoin sector. In a statement released on Monday, the OCC encouraged these lenders to explore the possibility of becoming payment stablecoin issuers in advance of a new federal licensing framework due to take effect in 2027. The OCC publicly stated that it supports the development of payment stablecoin solutions within the community banking industry.