Trump Explores Consolidating or Ending Banking Oversight Bodies

• Donald Trump’s presidential transition team is reportedly discussing the possibility of reducing the number of banking regulators, merging agencies, or even eliminating some entirely.
• With the potential consolidation or reform of the FDIC, OCC, and Federal Reserve, alongside the CFPB, the crypto market could benefit from a more streamlined regulatory environment, allowing it to flourish more freely.

Advisers to President-elect Donald Trump and officials of the Department of Government Efficiency (D.O.G.E), Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, are reportedly debating on strategies to slim down or even abolish key financial watchdogs.

According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, this discussion comes as part of a broader push to reconfigure the regulatory framework affecting the banking and crypto sector, which some in Trump’s circle view as overly burdensome. These advisers argue that a significant rollback of regulatory powers could foster a more business-friendly environment for cryptocurrencies.

In interviews, Trump’s advisers have raised questions about the feasibility of consolidating bank deposit insurance functions into the Treasury Department. Additionally, conversations have included suggestions to combine various regulatory bodies, including the FDIC, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), and the Federal Reserve.

A significant opportunity has emerged for Trump to appoint a new leader to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). Meanwhile, Brian Quintenz, a prominent name in cryptocurrency policy, is being considered for the chair position at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Current FDIC Chair Martin Gruenberg has announced his retirement, effective January 19.

However, as he steps down, he faces considerable challenges. Republican House of Representatives member Tom Emmer publicly accused Gruenberg of being the “architect of Operation Chokepoint 2.0. and failing to protect his own employees”. Emmer’s comment is based on a congressional hearing where Gruenberg testified about an investigation revealing a culture of sexual assault, harassment, and mistreatment at the FDIC during his tenure.

For context, “Operation Chokepoint 2.0” is an alleged and unconfirmed initiative suggesting that the U.S. government pressured banks to limit services to cryptocurrency businesses, which may have impacted crypto exchanges like Binance and Coinbase.

Deregulation: A Double-Edged Sword for Crypto?

Nic Carter, a partner at Castle Island Ventures, recently stated that Silvergate Bank likely would have survived if it hadn’t been forced into voluntary liquidation by U.S. regulators. The bank paid out large fines to its regulators: $43 million to the Federal Reserve, $20 million to California’s Department of Financial Protection, and $50 million to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Carter revealed that an insider at Silvergate informed him the bank had to limit its crypto deposits to 15% to avoid regulatory repercussions. 

Signature Bank and Silicon Valley Bank, both of which were known for their support of cryptocurrency, are additional examples of banks affected by the actions of the FDIC. These banks, which had partnerships with venture capital firms like Andreessen Horowitz and Pantera Capital, shut down in early 2023. 

Recently, a federal judge reprimanded the FDIC for its lack of transparency regarding its oversight of banks involved in cryptocurrency. This criticism highlights the need for reforms in the agency. Additionally, the potential dissolution of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) adds another challenge for the crypto sector. The judge’s comments arose during a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit backed by Coinbase, which questioned the FDIC’s redactions of “pause letters” issued to banks concerning their crypto activities.

By abolishing the watchdogs, it can allocate resources more efficiently and encourage innovation in the crypto industry. However, if regulatory changes disrupt the existing financial oversight structure, the crypto industry might find itself in a precarious position as agencies like the SEC, CFTC, and OCC vie for authority over various facets of blockchain. This process could either clarify regulations or lead to confusion and instability within the industry.

With support from Coinbase and other major crypto firms, the election of pro-crypto candidates marked a pivotal moment for the industry. The cryptocurrency sector invested over $119 million to support such candidates, resulting in the election of more than 240 pro-crypto lawmakers to the House of Representatives and Senate, a notable success for the push for clearer regulations and leadership in the US. 

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong declared this as “America’s most pro-crypto Congress ever,” suggesting that the potential abolition of banking watchdogs would represent a substantial win for the crypto industry and could bolster investor confidence. Additionally, it could enable cryptocurrencies to operate more efficiently, leading to real-time transactions, lower fees, and increased mainstream acceptance.