Quick Stats
- Jonathan Gould, former Bitfury Chief Legal Officer, was tapped to lead OCC under the Trump administration.
- OCC oversees national banks, making this a key position for crypto-friendly policy shifts.
- Gould has prior experience at the OCC and Blackrock, giving him deep regulatory expertise.
The Trump administration continues to reshape financial regulation with a pro-crypto tilt, naming Jonathan Gould, former Chief Legal Officer at Bitcoin mining giant Bitfury, as the new head of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). The move reinforces the administration’s efforts to create a more crypto-friendly regulatory environment, aligning with other key appointments of industry advocates in recent weeks.
Gould previously served as senior counsel at the OCC, before joining Bitfury, where he navigated regulatory complexities for one of the largest blockchain infrastructure firms in the world. His appointment suggests the OCC, which oversees national banks and financial institutions, could take a more permissive stance toward digital asset businesses and banking access for crypto firms.
This marks a notable departure from the previous administration’s approach, which was criticized for its appointment of personnel who were keen on aggressive enforcement actions against crypto firms and debanking of industry players. Gould is expected to play a key role in ensuring clearer guidelines for financial institutions looking to engage with digital assets.
The news was first reported by Politico, citing a document sent to the Senate on Tuesday.
Trump Doubles Down on Crypto-Friendly Regulators with Key Appointments
The Trump administration is making major moves to reshape financial regulation in favor of crypto adoption. Following Jonathan Gould’s appointment to lead the OCC, the administration has now nominated former CFTC commissioner Brian Quintenz to return as the agency’s chief.
Quintenz, who currently heads crypto policy at Andreessen Horowitz’s crypto investment arm (a16z Crypto), is expected to push for a more innovation-friendly approach at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). His nomination aligns with Trump’s broader regulatory overhaul, which includes a new SEC crypto task force and plans to restructure key financial watchdogs.
Notably, the administration is considering merging the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) with the OCC under the Treasury Department, according to reports from The Wall Street Journal. As the CFPB scales back operations, the Trump administration’s restructuring of financial watchdogs could clear regulatory roadblocks for crypto adoption. Over the weekend, acting CFPB head Russell Vought instructed employees to “cease all supervision and examination activity” and to pause enforcement actions.
