NYDFS

July 18, 2026

When Does the GENIUS Act Actually Take Effect? The 120-Day Trigger and the January 18, 2027 Backstop

Federal regulators arrive at the GENIUS Act's July 18, 2026 rulemaking deadline with eleven proposed rules and zero final ones. That does not delay compliance --- it fixes the effective date at January 18, 2027 while compressing the build window issuers have left.