The global payments ecosystem is facing a potential structural transformation. In May 2025, the U.S. Congress introduced the GENIUS Act (Giving Everyone a New Investment and Unifying Stablecoins Act), a legislative proposal aimed at comprehensively regulating the issuance and operation of stablecoins. While a U.S. initiative, its implications are undeniably global.
For Latin American businesses engaged in international transactions—especially those working with U.S. partners or managing multi-currency treasuries—this legislation presents a strategic opportunity. The GENIUS Act could lay the foundation for a new financial infrastructure that is faster, more transparent, and seamlessly connected.
1. Bank custody and secure reserves: A new standard for corporate treasury
One of the most impactful components of the GENIUS Act is that it allows federally regulated banks to issue stablecoins backed by safe and liquid assets, such as short-term U.S. Treasury bonds. This significantly enhances trust and positions stablecoins as a viable alternative for corporate liquidity management.
According to CoinMetrics, stablecoin transactions surpassed $10.8 trillion USD annually in 2024 and continue to gain traction as a digital financial instrument. With institutional-grade backing, these tokens could be incorporated into treasury strategies seeking efficiency and low-risk exposure to digital dollars.
2. Regulatory clarity: Faster payments and lower pre-funding requirements
The GENIUS Act establishes a clear federal licensing regime under the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), offering consistent legal certainty for both bank and non-bank issuers. For businesses, this translates into the confidence to integrate stablecoins into cross-border payment flows without fear of compliance risks.
With the B2B cross-border payments market expected to reach $56.1 trillion USD by 2030 (FXC Intelligence), reducing legal and operational friction is critical. Bitso Business clients, for instance, can benefit from reduced pre-funding needs, enhanced capital efficiency, and near-instant payment execution across geographies.Beyond regulation, the GENIUS Act promotes interoperability between stablecoins and traditional financial rails. This includes the potential integration with FedNow, the Federal Reserve’s instant payment system, and ACH. This creates a world where stablecoins act as digital bridges across banking ecosystems, operating 24/7 with minimal latency.
For Latin America, this represents a breakthrough: national systems like Brazil’s PIX or Mexico’s SPEI could seamlessly connect with U.S. banking infrastructure, enabling real-time, low-cost payments in both directions.
The Act mandates independent audits and public disclosure of reserves for all stablecoin issuers—a direct response to one of the most common enterprise-level concerns: trust.
Research by PwC and Circle shows that more than 40% of global CFOs cite "lack of transparency" as the main reason they’ve yet to adopt stablecoins. By enforcing regulatory-grade audits, the GENIUS Act positions stablecoins as trustworthy and operationally sound financial tools for institutional use.
While the GENIUS Act is still under legislative discussion, its framework already sets a precedent. If enacted, it would accelerate the adoption of digital payments that are faster, safer, and fully compliant. In a region like Latin America—where economies rely heavily on the U.S. dollar and are increasingly focused on cross-border efficiency—early adoption could be a significant advantage.
At Bitso Business, we view this development as a key inflection point. Businesses must evaluate their payments infrastructure and embrace solutions that combine blockchain innovation with regulatory robustness. Stablecoins are no longer a future trend, they are an evolving part of the present.