Crypto regulation in Q1 2026 reshaped the stablecoin and digital asset markets with the OCC's 376-page Genius Act proposed rule, the SEC's five-category crypto asset classification, and new AML data from FATF and Chainalysis. Tedd Huff, CEO of fintech advisory firm Voalyre and founder of Fintech Confidential, breaks it all down with Robert Musiala, Partner at Baker Hostetler and co-lead of their Web3 practice.

The OCC introduced the PPSI framework that every future stablecoin issuer must follow, while at least 15 crypto-native companies raced to file trust charter applications. The SEC named 18 tokens as digital commodities, replaced the "decentralization" test with a central party control standard, and Chairman Atkins previewed up to three safe harbor proposals under a tentative Regulation CA. On the enforcement side, 84% of illicit crypto transactions in 2025 involved stablecoins, the DOJ seized $61 million in USDT, and North Korea expanded state-sponsored theft into remote IT worker schemes targeting US businesses.

1️⃣ Map your Genius Act transition now; the 18-month implementation window is closing fast and companies that filed trust charters in late 2025 are already positioned.

2️⃣ Vet every outsourced IT vendor accepting stablecoin payments for shell company ties to state-sponsored actors.

3️⃣ Audit your tokens against the SEC's five-bucket test before the safe harbor proposals drop.

4️⃣ Stress test your AML program against stablecoin-specific risks like peer-to-peer transfers, multi-hop wallet chains, and shell IT vendor payments flagged by the DOJ and FATF in Q1.

5️⃣ Model your Q3 budget with and without yield revenue in case the OCC's related third-party restrictions survive.

LINKS

Guest

Robert Musiala

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-musiala/

Baker Hostetler: https://www.bakerlaw.com/people/robert-musiala

Blockchain Monitor: https://www.blockchainmonitor.com/

Company

Baker Hostetler

Website: https://www.bakerlaw.com/

Web3 & Digital Assets Team: https://www.bakerlaw.com/practices/web3-digital-assets

Legal Resources: https://www.bakerlaw.com/insights

Host

Tedd Huff: https://www.linkedin.com/in/teddhuff/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fintechconfidential

Fintech Confidential

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SUPPORTERS

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ABOUT

Robert Musiala is a Partner at Baker Hostetler where he co-leads the firm's Web3 practice. He authors The Blockchain Monitor, one of the longest-running legal blogs covering crypto regulation, enforcement, and policy developments. His practice spans both traditional financial institutions and crypto-native companies.

Baker Hostetler is a national law firm with deep expertise in financial services, securities, and emerging technology law.

Tedd Huff is the CEO of fintech advisory firm Voalyre and founder of Fintech Confidential. The show is produced by DD3 Media and brings you the people, tech, and companies that change how you pay and get paid.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Episode Highlights

01:18 Welcome to Fintech Confidential

01:27 Dfns: Wallets as a Service (sponsor)

02:47 Show Intro And Guests

05:30 Genius Act Rulebook

07:38 Reserve Rules Explained

13:08 Charter Rush Begins

18:11 Banks Vs Crypto Score

20:49 Deposit Flight And Yield

25:58 Wyoming And SoFi Models

29:38 SEC Five Bucket Guide

32:49 Digital Commodities Line

37:35 Munchee Vs Meg Prime

39:21 Sky Flow: Building Fast and Secure (sponsor)

40:23 Back To Atkins Agenda

40:58 Atkins Next Moves

43:21 Regulation CA Safe Harbors

45:39 Stablecoins And Illicit Use

50:25 Freezing Burning Reissuing

54:13 Offshore Crackdown FATF

56:24 North Korea Crypto Threats

59:28 Q2 Watchlist OCC Yield

01:05:11 Safe Harbor And CLARITY

01:10:33 Advice For Builders Q2

01:13:20 Wrap Up And Sponsor

01:14:08 Hawk AI - Realtime Fraud Monitoring (sponsor)

01:14:53 Disclaimer