FDIC Vice Chair Travis Hill is poised to lead the agency and has outlined key priorities to guide banks.
| Key Takeaways: – FDIC Vice Chair Travis Hill is expected to become acting chair, focusing on reducing regulatory burdens. – Hill emphasized the need for clearer guidance on digital assets and criticized past federal restrictions, such as “pause letters.” |
Intended goals include reducing the regulatory burden on banks, distancing the FDIC from climate-related regulations and politically motivated actions such as Operation Choke Point, and fostering a more supportive environment for digital assets.
Hill, who has been Deputy Chair since 2022, had been seen as the likely acting chair of the FDIC, which provides deposit insurance coverage for U.S. banks. The FDIC Vice Chair has remarked that the approach of the agency to emerging technology, particularly in the market for digital assets, needs to be more open in nature, and guidance on these evolving areas needs to be clearer.
Hill’s comments follow the growing discontent in the cryptocurrency industry due to regulatory overreach. In June, Coinbase filed a lawsuit against the FDIC, alleging that the agency was trying to cut ties between the banking and crypto sectors. The lawsuit also included a request for access to the “pause letters” issued by the agency, citing unfair targeting of the crypto industry by the agency.
The FDIC Vice Chair addressed these concerns, noting that federal agencies had previously used “pause letters” to limit banks’ involvement in crypto-related activities. He affirmed that the FDIC does not discourage financial institutions from working with crypto.
| Disclaimer: The information on this website is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Cryptocurrency markets are volatile, and investing involves risk. Always do your own research and consult a financial advisor. |
