Insights

The GENIUS Act is defining how payment stablecoins are issued, regulated, and supervised in the United States. Understanding this evolving framework is critical for banks, fintechs, and other market participants navigating the digital assets landscape. Our rulemaking and reporting tracker is designed to help follow what’s coming, which agency is issuing rules, and when rules take effect.

Read the latest edition of On-Chain Spotlight for key regulatory, market, and litigation developments shaping the blockchain and digital assets industry.

On October 21, 2026, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (the "OCC") issued a final rule (the “Final Rule”) implementing the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act (the “GENIUS Act”) for payment stablecoin issuers and related activities subject to OCC jurisdiction.

On September 30, 2026, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 2116 (AB 2116), which broadens the California Financing Law (CFL) licensure requirements for parties engaged in small business commercial financing. The law expands the current statutory licensure regime to all “covered” commercial financing “providers” and “brokers.”

On September 30, 2026, the SEC proposed amendments to Rule 205-3 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 that would expand the ability of registered investment advisers to receive performance-based compensation from registered management investment companies and business development companies, subject to certain conditions. Additionally, the proposed amendments would broaden the definition of “qualified client” to include those who satisfy the “accredited investor” definition in Regulation D under the Securities Act of 1933.

On September 14, 2026, the Environmental Protection Agency issued a final rule that repealed substantially all of the carbon pollution standards set in 2024 with respect to fossil fuel-fired power plants. The EPA supplemented its repeal with a proposal to rescind the remaining standards by repealing its Greenhouse Gas Standards for Fossil Fuel-Fired Power Plants and Regulations for Power Plant Greenhouse Gas Emissions under Clean Air Act Section 111.

On August 18, 2026, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to amend its registration requirements for certain commodity pool operators and commodity trading advisors under Part 4 of the CFTC Regulations.

Cross-border estate planning gets complicated fast when a client owns assets in the United States, and the culprit is often hiding in plain sight: how title is held and which state’s law applies. Chapman partner and Trusts and Estates Department leader Rebecca Wallenfelsz and associate Mackenzie Collins break down the details in this chapter from the third edition of A Guide to International Estate Planning: Design, Administration, and Compliance.

The GENIUS Act is defining how payment stablecoins are issued, regulated, and supervised in the United States. Understanding this evolving framework is critical for banks, fintechs, and other market participants navigating the digital assets landscape. Our rulemaking and reporting tracker is designed to help follow what’s coming, which agency is issuing rules, and when rules take effect.

Read the latest edition of On-Chain Spotlight for key regulatory, market, and litigation developments shaping the blockchain and digital assets industry.

On October 21, 2026, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (the "OCC") issued a final rule (the “Final Rule”) implementing the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act (the “GENIUS Act”) for payment stablecoin issuers and related activities subject to OCC jurisdiction.

Chapman served as counsel to the lead arranger and underwriter on the largest municipal bond issuance in Connecticut history, establishing the state's largest water system.

Chapman was named among New York City’s leading real estate law firms in The Real Deal’s November 2026 ranking, coming at a consequential moment for the market.

On September 30, 2026, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 2116 (AB 2116), which broadens the California Financing Law (CFL) licensure requirements for parties engaged in small business commercial financing. The law expands the current statutory licensure regime to all “covered” commercial financing “providers” and “brokers.”

In partnership with the Crypto Council for Innovation and Vault Coalition anchors Bitwise Asset Management, Galaxy, and Morpho, Chapman helped develop a practical framework for analyzing crypto vaults under the federal securities laws—highlighting how control, transparency, and code-enforced safeguards can inform their regulatory treatment.

Chapman and the Amica Center secured a father’s release by defending his right to due process.

Partner Christian Brockman is attending. 

On September 30, 2026, the SEC proposed amendments to Rule 205-3 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 that would expand the ability of registered investment advisers to receive performance-based compensation from registered management investment companies and business development companies, subject to certain conditions. Additionally, the proposed amendments would broaden the definition of “qualified client” to include those who satisfy the “accredited investor” definition in Regulation D under the Securities Act of 1933.

Chapman served as counsel to Zip Co, a leading digital financial services company, in its inaugural US asset-backed securitization.