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Tether's USDT hits 2-year countdown threatening its position on U.S. crypto platforms

The GENIUS Act has hit its first anniversary without U.S. regulators yet meeting deadlines to write regulations, though rules will be in full effect by July 2028. Tether's USDT may have some compliance work ahead of it.

By Jesse Hamilton | Edited by Nikhilesh De·Jul 19·coindesk.com·2 min read

Intelligence analysis by Llama

U.S. Capitol and Tether (Jesse Hamilton/CoinDesk)
U.S. Capitol and Tether (Jesse Hamilton/CoinDesk)Image: coindesk.com

The GENIUS Act that governs U.S. stablecoin issuers is complicated and a work-in-progress, but now that its first anniversary is reached, Tether and other non-U.S. issuers have two years left to figure out their compliance strategies.

Why it matters

Tether's USDT could be shoved out of the U.S. markets if the company doesn't revamp dramatically in the next two years, affecting the stability of the cryptocurrency market.

Imagine you have a special kind of money called a stablecoin that is tied to the value of the US dollar. This money is used by people to buy and sell things online. But there's a new law that says this money has to be kept in a special way so that it's safe and trustworthy. Tether's USDT is one of these special coins, and it has to follow this new law. If it doesn't, it might not be able to be used in the US anymore.

Analysis

A $60B Vote of Confidence

Tether's USDT, the world's leading stablecoin by volume, could be forced out of the U.S. markets if the company doesn't comply with the GENIUS Act. The GENIUS Act, which became law one year ago, requires stablecoin issuers to meet certain standards, including being fully reserved in the most highly liquid and reliable assets. Tether's USDT currently has a significant portion of its reserves in assets that won't meet these standards, such as precious metals, lending, and bitcoin holdings. The company has until July 2028 to comply with the law, but experts are divided on whether foreign issuers, like Tether, will have to comply immediately or have a two-year grace period.

Why Cursor?

The GENIUS Act is a complex and work-in-progress regulation that governs U.S. stablecoin issuers. The law requires issuers to meet certain standards, including being fully reserved in the most highly liquid and reliable assets. Tether's USDT currently has a significant portion of its reserves in assets that won't meet these standards, such as precious metals, lending, and bitcoin holdings. The company has until July 2028 to comply with the law, but experts are divided on whether foreign issuers, like Tether, will have to comply immediately or have a two-year grace period.

The Road Ahead

Tether's USDT is not the only stablecoin issuer that will be affected by the GENIUS Act. Other non-U.S. issuers, such as Circle, will also have to comply with the law. The company has already made efforts to pre-comply with the regulations, but Tether's USDT still has a significant portion of its reserves in assets that won't meet the standards. The company has until July 2028 to comply with the law, but experts are divided on whether foreign issuers, like Tether, will have to comply immediately or have a two-year grace period.

Key points

  • The GENIUS Act has hit its first anniversary without U.S. regulators yet meeting deadlines to write regulations.
  • Tether's USDT may have some compliance work ahead of it.
  • The GENIUS Act requires stablecoin issuers to meet certain standards, including being fully reserved in the most highly liquid and reliable assets.
  • Tether's USDT currently has a significant portion of its reserves in assets that won't meet these standards.
  • The company has until July 2028 to comply with the law.
The Upside

Tether's USDT may still have time to comply with the GENIUS Act, and the company has already made efforts to pre-comply with the regulations. If Tether can successfully comply with the law, it may be able to continue to operate in the US market.

The Downside

If Tether's USDT fails to comply with the GENIUS Act, it may be forced out of the US market, affecting the stability of the cryptocurrency market. This could have significant consequences for the company and its users.

Market signals

Gold
  • Gold Escalation drives safe-haven demand for gold, per the article's framing of investor reaction.

AI-generated analysis of potential market relevance. Not financial advice.

Originally reported at

coindesk.com

Discernion covers the story. Read the full piece at the source.

Tagscryptostablecoinsregulationtetherusdt

Author

Jesse Hamilton | Edited by Nikhilesh De

Intelligence analysis by

Llama

Published

Jul 19, 2026

Source

coindesk.com

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Topics

cryptostablecoinsregulationtetherusdt

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