Anchorage Digital, the nation’s only federally chartered crypto bank, announced Thursday it will issue the USDtb stablecoin in the United States through a partnership with Ethena Labs. The move positions Anchorage Digital Bank as a leading issuer of stablecoins compliant with the recently enacted GENIUS Act, a federal law regulating stablecoin issuance.
The USDtb token, previously issued offshore, will now be launched on Anchorage Digital’s stablecoin issuance platform — a system designed to help institutions release and distribute regulated digital dollars. The partnership aims to integrate USDtb into the U.S. financial system, offering institutional investors a regulated way to access digital dollars.
“This collaboration enables federally regulated institutions like Anchorage Digital Bank to fully participate in the stablecoin ecosystem,” Anchorage Digital CEO Nathan McCauley said in a statement. “It’s essential that stablecoins are built on secure and compliant infrastructure.”
GENIUS Act Offers New Regulatory Clarity
The GENIUS Act, passed earlier this year, provides a federal framework to oversee the issuance and operation of stablecoins in the United States. Under this new law, USDtb becomes the first stablecoin to follow a clear pathway to full compliance.
Anchorage Digital, based in San Francisco, said its platform would allow institutions to issue digital dollars that align with federal standards. Ethena Labs, creator of USDe and USDtb, has focused on developing products that meet evolving regulatory expectations.
“While we’ve already seen strong demand for USDtb, GENIUS compliance will help expand its use across new platforms and products,” Ethena Labs CEO Guy Young said. “Partnering with Anchorage Digital reinforces our foundation for scaling without sacrificing trust or flexibility.”
The move highlights a broader trend of crypto companies seeking to align products with federal regulations as stablecoins increasingly support real-time payments, cross-border transactions and emerging fintech infrastructure.
Growing Role of Stablecoins in Finance
Stablecoins, digital tokens pegged to fiat currencies such as the U.S. dollar, have become central to digital asset markets and financial innovation. Their uses range from reducing payment settlement times to providing liquidity in decentralized markets.
By launching USDtb under a federally regulated framework, Anchorage Digital Bank aims to offer institutions a compliant and programmable form of digital cash. The approach could ease integration with traditional banks, payment systems and other regulated financial entities.
Anchorage Digital said it plans to continue working with other institutions to support the safe and regulated expansion of stablecoins in the U.S. market. The company emphasized that regulatory clarity under the GENIUS Act makes it possible for federally chartered banks to participate directly in stablecoin issuance — potentially reshaping how digital dollars are created and used.
The partnership between Anchorage Digital and Ethena Labs underscores the growing push to combine blockchain innovation with federal compliance as stablecoins move deeper into mainstream finance.
