The U.S. Treasury Department is considering requiring stablecoin issuers to comply strictly, including having the ability to freeze transactions

On April 8, the U.S. Treasury Department will release a proposed rule mandating stablecoin issuers to implement strict compliance controls to counter money laundering, terrorist financing, and U.S. sanctions violations. The rules are being jointly drafted by FinCEN (Financial Crimes Enforcement Network) and OFAC (Office of Foreign Assets Control)—both Treasury Department agencies. Key requirements for stablecoin issuers include: - The ability to block, freeze, or reject suspicious or illegal transactions; - Risk-based internal controls focused on monitoring high-risk customers and activities; - Active record searches and cooperation with U.S. authorities when a specific entity is flagged; - Enforcement of anti-money laundering (AML) and sanctions compliance in both primary and secondary markets; - Treatment as traditional financial institutions, with responsibility for safeguarding the U.S. financial system from illicit use. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent noted regulators seek to make stablecoins a more reliable, secure payment tool while tackling persistent illicit financial risks in the crypto sector.