- OCC’s new leadership signals easier banking access for crypto firms, while the CFPB’s power is fading.
- Regulatory changes point to a more crypto-friendly U.S. landscape, boosting market confidence.
The U.S. crypto industry is undergoing a major regulatory shift, with two key agencies—the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)—undergoing significant changes that could reshape how digital assets interact with the banking system.
A recent Crypto News Flash report highlighted the discovery of 2025’s Top 10 Low-Cap cryptos with massive upside potential, a sign that investors are closely watching how these regulatory changes will impact emerging projects. With the OCC’s evolving stance, these low-cap cryptos could benefit from greater institutional support and improved banking access, potentially driving new growth in the sector.
As Frank Kelly described in a recent tweet:
The OCC gets an acting Comptroller, the CFPB is ordered to stop doing whatever it’s doing, Congress starts moving on new crypto legislation, and Treasury gets new Assistant Secretaries for Financial Markets and Financial Institutions.
The OCC Gets An Acting Comptroller, The CFPB Is Ordered to Stop Doing Whatever It’s Doing, Congress Starts Moving on Crypto Legislation, And Treasury Gets a New Assistant Secretaries for Financial Markets and Financial Institutions. All this and more in Fulcrum Macro's U.S.… pic.twitter.com/X00yElh9Qg
— Frank Kelly (@FulcrumMacro) February 10, 2025
Now, with Rodney Hood stepping in as the new acting head, crypto firms may find it easier to gain banking access. Hood, a known supporter of digital assets, has previously advocated for integrating cryptocurrencies into credit unions, arguing that financial institutions must adapt to remain competitive.
The CFPB’s Power Struggle and Crypto Implications
While the OCC is easing restrictions, the CFPB is facing an existential crisis. Originally established to protect consumers from abusive financial practices, the CFPB has frequently clashed with crypto firms, particularly Coinbase, which has logged nearly 8,000 consumer complaints.
Now, under Russ Vought, Trump’s newly appointed acting head, the agency is being stripped of funding, and its regulatory activities have been largely frozen.
The CFPB’s previous leadership pushed for stablecoin regulation that would have expanded the agency’s authority over digital assets, particularly regarding self-hosted wallets. However, with its new leadership’s anti-regulatory stance, such initiatives are unlikely to move forward.
A More Crypto-Friendly Regulatory Landscape?
Despite ongoing political battles, these developments suggest a more crypto-friendly regulatory environment, with fewer restrictions on banks and financial firms looking to integrate digital assets.
As these shifts unfold, Bitcoin (BTC) remains stable above $98,060, reflecting market confidence in the regulatory outlook. BTC has surged 0.45% in the past day but declined by 0.72% over the past week. See Bitcoin (BTC) price chart below.
