Are Crypto Banks In Danger? FDIC ‘Pause Letters’ Spark Fears Of Operation Chokepoint 2.0

As a seasoned financial analyst with over two decades of experience navigating the complex world of banking regulations, I find myself deeply concerned by the ongoing tussle between Coinbase and the FDIC.


A cryptocurrency exchange accused the US government of undermining the cryptocurrency sector orchestrating a campaign against digital currencies.

According to Coinbase, the U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is using strategies to discourage traditional banks and other financial entities from participating in cryptocurrency transactions.

FDIC: Stay Away From Crypto

According to Coinbase, the FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation) reportedly reached out to numerous financial entities, advising them against engaging in ventures related to cryptocurrencies.

According to Paul Grewal, the Chief Legal Officer at Coinbase, evidence has been uncovered suggesting that the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is engaged in a campaign discouraging traditional U.S. financial institutions from participating in crypto investments.

Are Crypto Banks In Danger? FDIC ‘Pause Letters’ Spark Fears Of Operation Chokepoint 2.0

To date, Grewal stated that they discovered over twenty instances of such strategies being used against cryptocurrencies. He further mentioned that the U.S. agency advised financial entities to temporarily halt, avoid offering, or refrain from progressing in offering banking services for digital assets.

Progressively, the situation has become more transparent. Following our lawsuit, the FDIC began providing details regarding our FOIA request concerning the pause letters they dispatched to financial institutions during Operation Chokepoint 2.0. Essentially, what we’ve received is an appalling demonstration…

— paulgrewal.eth (@iampaulgrewal) November 1, 2024

Step by step, the situation is becoming more transparent, Grewal noted in a post as Coinbase received data from the FDIC in response to its Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request related to the letters sent to banks under the Operation Chokepoint 2.0 initiative.

Previously, US Senator Bill Hagerty stated that Operation Choke Point 2.0 represents a collaborative action by the country’s financial regulators to strangle the local digital currency market. This is achieved by denying banking services to the industry, often referred to as “de-banking,” and discouraging American businesspeople from pursuing interests in digital assets.

Are Crypto Banks In Danger? FDIC ‘Pause Letters’ Spark Fears Of Operation Chokepoint 2.0

Coinbase Calls For Transparency

Grewal emphasized that the American people have a right to know the truth, as they deserve full disclosure. He criticized the FDIC for employing such strategies and operating in secrecy, hidden behind the veil of bureaucracy.

He described the contents of the letters as shameful examples of a state-run agency making an effort to keep law-abiding American companies away from accessing cryptocurrencies.

Are Crypto Banks In Danger? FDIC ‘Pause Letters’ Spark Fears Of Operation Chokepoint 2.0
A Cloud Of Doubt

The court-submitted documents suggest that the FDIC harbors concerns about the risk evaluations conducted by banks in relation to Bitcoin services. Consequently, this U.S. financial institution has advised banks to postpone their intentions to offer these services until a thorough examination is carried out.

In one of his letters, the FDIC’s Assistant Regional Director, Eric T. Guyot, requested a specific financial institution to temporarily halt all operations involving cryptocurrencies. This was to give the FDIC sufficient time to assess the safety and reliability of the proposed crypto product the bank intended to provide.

In a letter dated March 25, 2022, Acting Regional Director Jessica A. Kaemingk at the FDIC encouraged a financial institution to reconsider their plan for launching a digital asset product. She raised concerns about the safety and soundness of the proposed offering and requested that the bank provide more documentation.

Financial Regulations

The current battle between Coinbase and FDIC is part of the ongoing saga on the true relationship between government regulations and the cryptocurrency space. It will be an added item to the continuous debate on how to strike a balance between consumer protection and innovation in cryptocurrency.

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2024-11-03 06:20