US Senate Passes Bill to Regulate Stablecoins, Boosting Corporate Adoption Prospects

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The U.S. Senate has approved the GENIUS Act, a bill establishing a regulatory framework for stablecoins, marking a significant milestone for the growing segment of cryptocurrency designed to maintain stable value, typically pegged 1:1 to the U.S. dollar. The bill’s passage is seen as a key step toward broader adoption of stablecoins by corporations worldwide.

Stablecoins facilitate crypto traders’ movement of funds between tokens, but clearer regulations have been lacking. The bill now moves to the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, where its version must pass before heading to former President Donald Trump’s desk for signing.

If enacted, the law will require stablecoins to be fully backed by liquid assets—such as U.S. dollars and short-term Treasury bills—and mandate issuers to publicly disclose monthly reserve compositions. Analysts believe this regulatory clarity could unlock wider use by companies across multiple sectors.

Several major firms are already engaged or exploring stablecoin initiatives globally:

  • Major U.S. Banks:
    Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan has indicated possible stablecoin launches. Morgan Stanley seeks to work with regulators on crypto-related transaction roles. Both remain cautious, focusing on pilot programs or partnerships.

  • Societe Generale (France):
    Plans to issue a publicly tradable, dollar-backed stablecoin via its digital asset subsidiary.

  • Retail Giants Walmart and Amazon:
    Reports suggest recent exploration of stablecoin issuance, though Walmart denies current plans and Amazon has not commented.

  • Banco Santander (Spain):
    Considering digital asset expansion including early-stage stablecoin projects.

  • Crypto and Fintech Firms:
    World Liberty Financial launched a dollar-pegged stablecoin USD1 this year. PayPal released a U.S. dollar stablecoin in August 2023. Circle Internet’s USDC and Paxos’ stablecoins are among the largest. Tether’s USDT remains the largest by market cap, followed by MakerDAO’s DAI.

The GENIUS Act’s passage signals increasing regulatory acceptance of stablecoins, potentially accelerating their integration into mainstream corporate finance and payment systems.

EU Accepts AliExpress Commitments to Combat Illegal Online Products

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The European Commission announced on Wednesday that it has accepted binding commitments from Alibaba’s AliExpress to tackle the spread of illegal and pornographic materials on its platform. This follows a March investigation into AliExpress’s alleged failure to adequately address these concerns, which could have resulted in significant fines.

Despite the acceptance of these commitments, AliExpress may still face penalties. The Commission noted that the company underestimated the risks of disseminating illegal goods and failed to enforce sanctions against traders posting illicit content. AliExpress has the opportunity to respond to these preliminary findings.

AliExpress stated it has cooperated proactively with the Commission and remains confident that ongoing dialogue will lead to a compliant resolution.

The commitments include improvements to monitoring systems for illegal products, such as unapproved medicines, food supplements, and adult content. They also enhance transparency around advertising and recommendation algorithms, and facilitate trader traceability on the platform.

Malaysia Investigates Chinese Firm’s Use of Nvidia AI Chips Amid Export Controls

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Malaysia’s trade ministry is currently investigating reports that a Chinese company operating in the country is using Nvidia AI chips and servers for training large language models, according to a ministry statement on Wednesday. The inquiry aims to determine if any domestic laws or regulations have been violated.

The Wall Street Journal previously reported that Chinese engineers arrived in Malaysia in early March carrying suitcases filled with hard drives. They were reportedly working to develop AI models using data centers equipped with Nvidia chips.

These developments come against the backdrop of U.S. restrictions on exports of advanced AI chips, introduced during the Biden administration, which capped the number of AI chips Malaysia could receive. Though the Trump administration later rescinded these curbs, it issued guidance emphasizing licensing requirements if AI chip use is linked to weapons of mass destruction.

Malaysia’s ongoing verification reflects growing global scrutiny over technology transfer and AI development involving Chinese entities.