Banks Target Stablecoin Yields as Top 2026 Priority in Policy Agenda

The American Bankers Association has elevated stablecoin yield restrictions to the forefront of its 2026 policy agenda, marking a significant escalation in the banking industry's campaign against digital-dollar incentive programs. The trade group's Blueprint for Growth explicitly calls on Congress to prohibit interest, yield, or rewards on payment stablecoins, arguing they threaten traditional deposit bases and community lending capacity.

ABA President Rob Nichols framed the MOVE as part of broader efforts to bolster the economy and enhance financial competition. The document positions stablecoin regulations ahead of fraud prevention and minority banking support in its priority ranking, reflecting growing institutional anxiety over crypto's encroachment into traditional banking domains.

This coordinated push comes as Senate Banking Committee negotiations remain deadlocked over stablecoin provisions in digital asset legislation. The banking sector appears determined to curb what it views as an existential threat to its deposit-taking business model.