GENIUS Act Designed to Withstand Policy Shifts, a16z Exec Argues
Seoul, South Korea – October 1, 2026 – In a political landscape where policy often shifts with changes in leadership, the recently enacted GENIUS Act is designed to be a bulwark against such volatility, according to Miles Jennings, head of policy and general counsel at a16z Crypto. Speaking at the a16z Crypto Korea Summit in Seoul, Jennings asserted that the U.S. stablecoin legislation creates significant hurdles for future administrations seeking to reverse the ongoing migration of finance onto blockchain networks.
Jennings delivered the keynote address on global digital asset policy at the summit, held at the Chosun Palace Gangnam Hotel, with the GENIUS Act taking center stage. His core argument revolved around how the act embeds stablecoin regulations within a robust, structured legal framework. This inherent structure, he contended, is precisely what makes the law resilient to potential rollbacks by subsequent administrations.
Signed into law on July 18, 2025, the GENIUS Act establishes a comprehensive framework for payment stablecoins in the United States. These dollar-pegged tokens are crucial for facilitating value transfer across cryptocurrency networks. The legislation imposes stringent requirements on issuers, notably mandating that they maintain reserves of high-quality liquid assets on a 1:1 basis.
Jennings characterized the act as a foundational measure, designed to foster the growth of decentralized protocols while simultaneously injecting clarity and stability into the broader regulatory environment.
The summit attracted a diverse array of participants from the crypto industry, including representatives from projects such as Morpho, Digital Asset, and OP Labs. Discussions explored the transformative potential of decentralized finance for institutional finance and the implications of on-chain infrastructure for artificial intelligence integration.
This event marks a significant step in a16z’s expansion into Asia, a strategic push that began in earnest with the firm’s announcement of a new Seoul office in December 2025, its first in the region. The a16z summit also coincided with a period of intense policy discussions in the city. In September 2026, events like the Upbit Institutional Summit (UIS 2026) featured discussions on stablecoins with the participation of U.S. officials. Additionally, EastPoint: Seoul 2026 hosted high-profile policy conversations where U.S. officials reaffirmed their commitment to refining legislation surrounding stablecoins and related technologies.
The distinction between a statutory law and agency guidance is critical. Unwinding legislation passed by Congress typically requires a new act of Congress, a process that is considerably slower and more public than reversing an administrative directive. By codifying stablecoin rules into law with firm requirements, such as the 1:1 reserve standard, the GENIUS Act significantly increases the cost and complexity of any future attempts to alter its course.
A clearly defined regulatory landscape is expected to grant stablecoin issuers enhanced access to traditional financial markets and institutional investors, thereby bolstering liquidity and market stability. As South Korea and the wider Asian market increasingly engage with digital asset infrastructure, alignment with U.S. regulations could stimulate cross-border investment and collaborative initiatives. U.S. officials in Seoul indicated that the refinement of stablecoin legislation and the pursuit of effective market structures and compliance suggest the GENIUS Act serves as a foundational step rather than a definitive conclusion.
