The GENIUS Act, a bipartisan bill to regulate payment stablecoins, is now at the center of a major controversy. U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren has raised alarms, warning that billionaires like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos could abuse the system if critical loopholes aren’t fixed.
Her warning has ignited a heated debate in the crypto community and among lawmakers. So, what exactly is the GENIUS Act, and why is it drawing so much attention?
The GENIUS Act is a proposed U.S. Senate bill aiming to establish a federal framework for payment stablecoins. It sets out:
The bill recently cleared a cloture vote and is now headed for a full Senate floor vote, where several amendments are expected to be considered.
Senator Elizabeth Warren took to X (formerly Twitter) to issue a sharp warning:
“If Congress doesn’t fix the GENIUS Act, billionaires like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos could launch stablecoins that track your purchases, exploit your data, and squeeze out competitors.”
Warren’s statement highlights a key concern: if tech giants gain control over both stablecoin issuance and the platforms on which they operate, it could create a dangerous data monopoly.
Reports suggest Musk’s company X is exploring stablecoin integration through its X Money initiative, with the goal of enabling peer-to-peer payments and reducing transaction fees.
Speculation is swirling that Amazon is also developing a USD-backed stablecoin, aiming to cut costs and streamline online payments.
These potential moves by tech titans are exactly what Warren fears—corporate dominance over digital money and consumer data.
Stablecoin transactions are recorded on public blockchains. But if a corporation controls both the stablecoin and the user platform, it could:
This raises major privacy and surveillance concerns.
Senator Warren also warned of another risk: bailouts. If corporate stablecoins crash, taxpayers might be on the hook.
Adding fuel to the fire, President Donald Trump is now tied to a controversial stablecoin project.
WLF has raised over $550 million and issued a USD1 stablecoin, backed by U.S. Treasuries and cash equivalents.
While Trump’s support for crypto aligns with his campaign promises, critics question whether there’s a conflict of interest.
Not everyone agrees with Warren.
Previous concerns around money laundering, foreign coins, and corporate involvement have been partially addressed in the bill, but the privacy debate remains unresolved.
The GENIUS Act is still evolving. As it heads to a full Senate vote, amendments may reshape its final form.But one thing is clear: the outcome will significantly impact the future of stablecoins in the U.S.—and the power tech giants may (or may not) have over them.
The GENIUS Act is a proposed US Senate bill aiming to establish a federal framework for payment stablecoins, setting rules for issuance, reserves, and regulatory oversight.
Corporate-controlled stablecoins could link wallets to profiles, monitor spending, and use data for targeted ads or sales, raising significant privacy concerns.
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