Senate Passes Genius Act—But Now It Gets Complicated
The Senate just delivered a major crypto win: the Genius Act, a bill supporting stablecoin innovation, passed with 68 votes in favor.
That’s not just approval—that’s overwhelming bipartisan momentum. But here’s the twist: the House already has its own stablecoin legislation, dubbed the STABLE Act. And it’s very different.
So now, we’re heading into a political showdown: Genius vs. STABLE.
Genius vs. STABLE: What’s the Real Difference?
Both bills support stablecoins and acknowledge their growing role in the financial system. But how do they approach regulation? Night and day.
- Genius Act (Senate): Offers flexibility. If your market cap is below $10 billion, you can opt for state-level regulation. Above that? You can go federal. It’s innovation-friendly, especially for small issuers.
- STABLE Act (House): Think banking-level scrutiny. Mandatory federal regulation for all issuers, regardless of size. This creates higher compliance costs and could suffocate smaller players.
Big names like Circle, Tether, Ripple, and PayPal won’t sweat either bill. But for startups? The STABLE Act could be a death sentence. Genius, on the other hand, gives them a fighting chance.
Scott Bessent’s Take: Why Stablecoins Matter
Scott Bessent, a prominent hedge fund manager, estimates stablecoins could hit $3.7–$3.9 trillion in market cap by the end of the decade. But here’s why he really likes them:
“Stablecoins are backed by dollars — aka Treasuries. The more adoption, the more demand for Treasuries. That’s bullish for the U.S. dollar and for the U.S. financial system.”
This is key. Stablecoins might not just be good for crypto—they might save the Treasury market.
Trump, Iran, and Global Risk: Why Bitcoin Dropped
While legislation made headlines, global tensions stole the spotlight.
Trump made explicit demands: Iran must withdraw from the conflict, or the U.S. might intervene. He’s calling for unilateral de-escalation—or else. The G7 condemned Iran. Israel’s stance is clear: Iran cannot be allowed to develop nukes. But others question why Iran can’t defend itself. It’s geopolitical chaos.
Markets responded accordingly:
- Bitcoin dipped to $103K and bounced back to $104K.
- U.S. equities dropped amid war fears.
- But no full-blown crash—suggesting investors still think this conflict might de-escalate soon.
Nobody in the U.S. wants war. From political pundits to the average voter, the sentiment is the same: “We’ve got our own problems.”
And they’re not wrong:
- Consumers are spending less.
- Bond markets are shaky.
- The dollar is weakening.
- Tariffs and inflation are squeezing households.
With all this, a new war feels like the last thing the U.S. economy can handle.
Bitcoin: Still Standing Strong
Despite the FUD, Bitcoin remains firm around $104K. We may have missed a clean breakout above $110K, but the bigger picture hasn’t changed.
- BBVA, one of Spain’s largest banks, is telling wealthy clients to allocate up to 7% to Bitcoin.
- Corporate treasuries, ETFs, and institutional players are still loading up.
The ideology of Bitcoin is spreading. Adoption is climbing—even in the face of war, volatility, and regulation. If anything, recent events are reinforcing Bitcoin’s narrative as a hedge against macro uncertainty.
Final Thoughts
This is a pivotal moment for crypto. The Senate just fired the first shot with the Genius Act. The House will counter with the STABLE Act. The outcome? Likely some hybrid bill. But either way, regulation is coming—and it might legitimize stablecoins in a big way.
Meanwhile, Bitcoin holds its ground, even as war headlines shake the market. The next few weeks could define the rest of the year—for both crypto and global markets.
Stay sharp.
I am not a financial advisor. This content is for informational and educational purposes only.
Senate Passes Genius Act — But Now It Gets Complicated was originally published in The Capital on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
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