Circle CEO: The FIT21 Act Lays the Foundation, but the US Still Has Much Work to Do on Digital Asset Regulation

According to a live report from Jinse Finance, on August 25 at the WebX2025 conference held in Japan, Heath TARBERT, President of HeathCircle, pointed out that the U.S. crypto regulatory environment has undergone a significant shift, moving from strict oversight to a more supportive stance. The passage of the “Genius Act” is of great significance, as it equates stablecoins with cash for the first time, bringing long-awaited regulatory clarity to the industry and establishing a foundation for stablecoins to be backed 1:1 by high-quality liquid assets. However, there is still much work to be done in the U.S. regarding digital asset regulation, such as clarifying the classification of other digital assets, improving custody services, and enacting market structure legislation for exchanges. The implementation details of the “Genius Act” have also yet to be finalized. When discussing stablecoins, Heath noted their wide range of applications. In addition to enabling efficient entry and exit in crypto asset trading, stablecoins can serve as a reliable dollar savings tool for people in non-G20 countries, reduce cross-border remittance costs by as much as 6%-7%, and optimize corporate cross-border transaction processes by enabling instant settlement and avoiding foreign exchange fees. The Circle payment network, leveraging USDC, connects global financial institutions and sets an example for efficient currency exchange. Regarding central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), the U.S. maintains a cautious approach. Heath mentioned that many in the U.S. are concerned about privacy and surveillance risks associated with CBDCs. In fact, the “Genius Act” prohibits the Federal Reserve from launching a CBDC in the near future, making it more likely that blockchain-based dollars will exist in the form of stablecoins going forward.