US Senator Cynthia Lummis Criticizes Fed’s Withdrawal of Crypto Guidelines
US Senator Cynthia Lummis, one of the main representatives of cryptocurrencies in Congress, has slammed the Fed’s recent move to withdraw key guidelines on cryptocurrencies, describing it as “empty talk” that does not bring any real progress to the digital asset industry.
The Federal Reserve on Thursday rescinded a series of Biden-era letters and joint statements that discouraged banks from engaging with crypto customers. The decision was welcomed by some in the crypto community as a sign of the changing regulatory landscape under the Trump administration. But Lummis warned that the gesture lacked substance and failed to address broader challenges still facing the industry.
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“The Fed’s actions yesterday in withdrawing its crypto guidance are just lip service,” Lummis said in a statement on X. “The Fed has stifled companies in the sector and harmed American interests by stifling innovation and shutting down businesses. This fight is far from over.”
Despite backtracking on previous guidance, the Fed stopped short of rescinding a key 2023 letter requiring state-affiliated banks to seek approval before offering crypto services, a move that Lummis and industry experts say perpetuates regulatory uncertainty.
“I will continue to hold the Fed accountable until the digital asset industry receives more than a life jacket,” Lummis said.
Lummis also said the Fed continues to use so-called “reputational risk” to justify denying access to banking services, a tactic critics claim is used to marginalize legal but controversial industries, including cryptocurrencies, without a clear financial justification.
*This is not investment advice.