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Ethan’s practice focuses on financial services litigation and compliance counseling, as well as digital assets and blockchain technology. With a long track record of successful litigation results across the U.S., both bank and non-bank clients rely on him for comprehensive advice throughout their business cycle.

On September 19, the U.S. Department of the Treasury issued an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) seeking public input on the implementation of the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act. This ANPRM builds upon the Request for Comment on Innovative Methods to Detect Illicit Activity Involving Digital Assets issued by Treasury on August 18, which remains open for comment until October 17, 2025.

On September 15, the Court of Appeals of the State of Washington reversed a lower court’s decision in Aaland v. CRST Home Solutions, LLC (CRST), holding that unsolicited text messages sent to recruit independent contractors qualified as “commercial” messages under the state’s Commercial Electronic Mail Act (CEMA). The decision vastly expands the scope of the state statute.

In this episode of The Crypto Exchange, hosts Ethan Ostroff and Genna Garver are joined by their colleague Pete Jeydel to explore the implications of the GENIUS Act on sanctions, anti-money laundering (AML), and efforts to combat the financing of terrorism within the stablecoin sector. The discussion focuses on the act’s goal to create a regulated ecosystem for payment stablecoin issuers, known as PPSIs, by transitioning offshore activities to U.S. jurisdiction. This strategic shift is anticipated to strengthen the government’s capacity to enforce AML and sanctions compliance.

On September 5, President Trump signed into law the Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act (HPPA) (H.R. 2808). This bipartisan legislation, sponsored by Representatives John Rose (R-TN) and Ritchie Torres (D-NY), aims to safeguard homebuyers’ personal financial information.

In this episode of The Crypto Exchange, Ethan Ostroff welcomes Deb Kovsky and Alex Rovira, partners in Troutman Pepper Locke’s Bankruptcy and Restructuring practice, to explore the GENIUS Act’s approach to stablecoin insolvency. The discussion highlights the complexities and gaps within the current regulatory framework.

Last week, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signed two landmark pieces of legislation aimed at protecting consumers from cryptocurrency scams and fraud. The Digital Assets and Consumer Protection Act (SB1797) and the Digital Asset Kiosk Act (SB2319) establish comprehensive regulatory frameworks for digital asset businesses operating in Illinois.

As digital assets continue to reshape the financial landscape, regulatory clarity around stablecoins is increasingly vital. The GENIUS Act, signed into law by President Trump in July, establishes the first-ever federal regulatory system for stablecoins and aims to position the U.S. as the global leader in digital assets. This is a historic shift in U.S. digital asset policy, prioritizing consumer protection, financial stability, and national security, while aiming to cement America’s leadership in the global digital currency revolution.