Just In: FDIC Revises Guidelines Allowing Banks To Engage In Crypto Activities

Highlights
- FDIC now allows banks to engage in crypto without prior approval, promoting digital asset integration in banking.
- The FDIC rescinds the 2022 crypto notification rule, allowing banks to innovate in blockchain and crypto with risk management.
- FDIC's new guidelines align with broader regulatory trends, easing crypto access for banks, while ensuring safety and risk oversight.
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has updated its guidelines, permitting banks to engage in crypto-related activities without prior approval. This shift marks a departure from earlier policies that required banks to notify the FDIC before participating in cryptocurrency and blockchain-related services.
The move comes as part of the FDIC’s ongoing efforts to establish clearer rules for financial institutions involved in digital assets.
FDIC Rescinds Previous Notification Requirement
The FDIC’s latest guidance rescinds a 2022 policy that required FDIC-supervised banks to notify the agency before engaging in crypto-related activities.
The previous requirement was established in the Financial Institution Letter (FIL-16-2022) that made it mandatory for any institution intending to engage in crypto activities to seek approval from the institution.
This new directive also means that banks are allowed to engage in business models that involve cryptocurrencies and other digital assets provided that the risks are managed well.
FDIC’s acting chairman, Travis Hill said, “By today’s decision the agency rejects the erroneous policy of the last three years.” Nevertheless, the FDIC stressed that banks need to continue implementing standard safety measures for handling crypto operations, including operational risk, cybersecurity risk, and market risk.
Regulatory Revisions to Ensure Safe Practices
The new policy means that banks supervised by the FDIC may participate in activities in innovations, including blockchain and crypto-assets, without necessarily seeking approval from the FDIC in advance.
Nevertheless, the agency clarified that risk assessment and management remain obligatory for banks as well as liquidity risks, consumer protection, and measures against money laundering (AML).
The newly proposed approach corresponds with the FDIC’s mission in overseeing the safety and soundness of banks while at the same time permitting corresponding innovation in the banking industry. The agency also stated that it would coordinate with other authorities to level up more directives to be followed for crypto-related operations that are acceptable with the banking system.
Industry Response to the New Guidelines
The change in the FDIC guidelines have been seen as positive by representatives from the industry as it undeniably moves the crypto further in to the banking sphere. According to Bo Hines, who serves as the executive director of the President’s Council of Advisers for Digital Assets, the decision is a ‘’big win’’ for the sector. This means that the entry of the banks to the new digital asset market has experienced less hurdle by eliminating previous approval requirements by the FDIC.
Additionally, the new guidelines are seen as part of a broader shift in regulatory attitudes toward cryptocurrencies, following similar actions by other U.S. financial regulators. Earlier this month, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) also loosened restrictions on crypto-related activities for federally chartered banks.
While the new guidance provides more freedom for banks to engage in crypto-related activities, the FDIC has emphasized that it will continue to engage with the President’s Working Group on Digital Asset Markets. The FDIC also expects to issue further guidance in the future to provide more clarity on specific crypto-related activities, such as custodial services and lending platforms.
- XRP Treasury Holdings Hits $11.5B as Nasdaq-Listed Reliance Global Adds $17M in Fresh Buy
- FOMC Minutes, Jerome Powell Speech: Will Bitcoin Recover or Retrace Further?
- “Meme Coin SZN Is Here,” Says CZ As GIGGLE, 4 Price Skyrocket to All time Highs
- CZ’s YZi Labs Commits $1 Billion Builder Fund As Binance Coin Surpasses XRP
- Expert Sees LTC Crashing to $50 Even As Litecoin ETF Approval Reaches Final Stage
- XRP Price Prediction Amid ETF Approval Roadblock as Analyst Warns of $2.72 Dip
- Binance Coin Price Prediction If It Surpasses Bitcoin Marketcap— Is $3000 Possible in 2025?
- ASTER vs HYPE Price Analysis – Which Perp DEX Token Looks Poised to Dominate Q4 Performance?
- Ethereum Price Could Soar to $6,500 as BlackRock’s ETF Nears $20B Milestone
- Cardano Price Consolidates Below Key Resistance Ahead of ETF Verdict — Is a 50% Rally in Sight?
- Solana Price Eyes 56% Rebound Amid Solana Company’s Massive $530M SOL Acquisition