FDIC Letters Reveal Intentional Restrictions
Internal communications from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, revealed by Coinbase, reveal an apparent attempt to deliberately restrict U.S. banks from working with crypto businesses. The documents, which were obtained as a result of a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit, include letters that encouraged banks to “pause all crypto asset-related activity.” The purported regulatory action resulted in delays or complete halts to plans by banks to offer cryptocurrency services, causing significant burdens on the crypto industry.
Coinbase says the letters demonstrate a lack of transparency and a lack of clarity from regulators, which has led to tension between crypto companies and federal regulators. The FDIC’s instructions apparently called for banks to resolve thorny compliance issues before taking up any crypto-related business, resulting in a practical freeze on the industry.
Crypto’s Rocky Relationship With Banking
For years, the firms of cryptocurrency have been trying to have decent banking relationships in place within the U.S. Banks were continuing to stay away out of a lack of regulatory clarity, fraud concerns, and potential reputational risk. All that leaves many crypto businesses without the financial infrastructure to operate.
The recently disclosed FDIC communications further underscore this strained relationship. By placing burdensome requirements on banks, the agency has reportedly deterred institutions from exploring partnerships with crypto businesses. The lack of formalized crypto guidelines has created an environment of uncertainty, where banks prefer to avoid the sector altogether rather than risk non-compliance.
Operation Chokepoint 2.0: Fact or Fiction?
Coinbase claims these moves are part of a wider effort that it refers to as “Operation Chokepoint 2.0.” The term alludes to allegations of federal regulators surreptitiously trying to choke the crypto industry by cutting off its access to critical banking services. Critics contend such measures inappropriately insulate legitimate crypto businesses, ultimately stifling innovation and undermining growth in the industry.
Paul Grewal, Coinbase’s Chief Legal Officer, underlined the importance of these revelations: “The letters show Operation Chokepoint 2.0 wasn’t some crypto conspiracy theory. The FDIC must answer for its overreach.”
Clear Crypto Guidelines: A Need
Meanwhile, crypto leaders are clamoring for clear, consistent regulations to replace these vague and unofficial restrictions. He urged rulemakers to adopt guidelines that allow law-abiding cryptocurrency companies to have fair access to banking without politically driven regulatory actions that will adversely affect their businesses.
In the interim, the FDIC’s actions reignited long-running debates over the role of government in or around the stifling of financial innovation, and the crypto world wants an easier onramp into legitimacy with traditional banks.
