USAT is independently issued by Anchorage, GENIUS Act approval process not yet initiated

Odaily reports: USAT is independently issued by Anchorage Digital Bank, N.A., with Tether providing technology and supporting branding, strategy, and distribution. Anchorage's disclosure states that Tether is not the issuer of USAT and has no obligation to redeem or guarantee the token; USAT and USDT are different products with different issuers and legal arrangements.

Anchorage's terms only allow approved customers to directly mint or redeem USAT, while other holders typically need to trade through exchanges or the secondary market. Its August 31, 2026 reserve report shows approximately 175.7 million redeemable USAT in circulation, corresponding to approximately $176.4 million in reserve assets.

The GENIUS Act took effect on July 18, 2025, with its main issuance framework set to be implemented on January 18, 2027. The U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) published the main implementing rules on October 21, 2026; as of October 27, the OCC had not yet initiated the application process, and public materials do not indicate that USAT has obtained issuance approval under the Act. (Bitcoin.com News)