Anchorage Digital Bank Becomes First Federally Chartered Stablecoin Issuer Following Recent GENIUS Act

Anchorage Digital Bank, the first and only federally chartered crypto bank, has built the capability to launch white-label, federally-regulated stablecoins. The offering is designed to empower institutions and innovators worldwide to participate in stablecoins, and bring their own branded stablecoins to the U.S. market from a trusted and regulated platform. The offering builds on Anchorage Digital Bank’s regulatory status, crypto expertise, and track record of safeguarding tens of billions of dollars in assets for the world’s leading institutions such as BlackRock.

The GENIUS Act launches a new era for stablecoins, as Congress builds on existing guidance by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) for national bank stablecoin issuance with a comprehensive regulatory regime. This shift provides the clarity needed to solidify American leadership in stablecoins, cementing the U.S. dollar's role as the native currency of the internet and the world reserve currency for decades to come. It also signals that the U.S. government and legal system are ready for the next wave of financial innovation through stablecoins. 

Anchorage Digital Bank’s offering is designed to meet the most important considerations for institutions and innovators looking to enter the space. We recently announced a partnership with Ethena to issue the first GENIUS-compliant stablecoin.

A Four-Year Headstart: A Proven, Federally Regulated Partner

While new legislation will create paths for other federal and state issuers, no current stablecoin issuer has direct experience working with federal regulators. In contrast, Anchorage Digital Bank has been doing this for over four years. We have already invested tens of millions of dollars and years of direct engagement with the OCC to build the industry’s leading compliance stack and meet the highest federal banking standards. This established regulatory leadership is combined with our crypto-native DNA, proven by our deep multi-chain experience and track record of safeguarding billions for the world's largest institutions. This unique combination reduces risk for our partners, and offers a trusted path to market that newcomers simply cannot match.

The issuance capability will be the latest strategic step in our commitment to unlocking secure participation in the stablecoin ecosystem. It builds on earlier stablecoin initiatives, including our role as an initial partner of the Global Dollar Network, the acquisition of Mountain Protocol, and Sergio Mello, Head of Stablecoins at Anchorage Digital, joining the Advisory Board of the Stablecoin Standard. 

"Stablecoins are rapidly becoming the backbone of a tokenized economy, but their full potential can only be unlocked with trust and regulatory clarity. Anchorage Digital Bank’s federal charter and other global licenses are an ideal foundation for building secure, trusted, and compliant stablecoins designed to meet tailored client needs. The GENIUS Act doesn't just provide regulatory clarity, it lays out the path for America to lead the future of digital finance. We are building the critical infrastructure that will onboard global institutions to this new standard and secure the U.S. dollar's status as the internet's reserve currency ”
— Nathan McCauley, CEO and Co-Founder of Anchorage Digital

The Federally Regulated Advantage

A white-label stablecoin issuance service from Anchorage Digital Bank is designed to offer:

• Unmatched regulatory clarity: As a federally chartered bank, Anchorage Digital Bank operates under a single, robust regulatory framework overseen by the OCC. This eliminates the complexities of navigating a patchwork of state-by-state regulations and ensures all issuance activity will adhere to existing and future requirements for a federally chartered bank.
• Unlimited issuance capability: As a federally chartered bank, Anchorage Digital Bank is not limited in its issuance capability under the GENIUS Act framework. 
• Institutional-grade security and scale: With a track record of securing tens of billions in assets under custody (AUC) for the world’s leading institutions, Anchorage Digital Bank provides proven security and operational excellence.
• Fast multi-chain deployment: Expertise across 45+ blockchains in EVM, Cosmos, and Solana ecosystems allows institutions to get their stablecoins to market fast, providing a distinct advantage over issuers who largely focus on a limited number of networks. With our regulatory and technical expertise, you can launch with the flexibility that meets your needs.
• Integrated financial infrastructure: Access to USD rails enables efficient conversions between fiat, stablecoins, and other digital assets. 
• Institutional network: Issuers gain access to Anchorage Digital Bank’s network of institutional clients, creating immediate opportunities for adoption and liquidity, trading and secure settlement directly from the platform.

A Comprehensive Issuance Offering

Anchorage Digital Bank’s white-label issuance is designed as a comprehensive, end-to-end service to manage all aspects of the stablecoin lifecycle:

• Multi-chain smart contract deployment and lifecycle management 
• Primary market for minting and burning with fiat and crypto
• End-to-end stablecoin reserve management
• Financial, compliance, and risk management, including audits and attestations
• Built-in and robust Know Your Business (KYB) and transaction monitoring, fund attribution, and direct regulatory oversight and reporting to the OCC
• Account opening for clients, with the ability to deposit USD and convert between asset types

By combining the strength of a federal charter with deep crypto-native expertise, Anchorage Digital Bank aims to set a new standard for stablecoin issuance.  

For more information, please get in touch.