- OCC report highlights bias against crypto and political sectors.
- Debanking occurred from 2020 to 2023 without proper risk assessment.
- Federal regulators warn banks to avoid discriminatory practices.
Between 2020 and 2023, nine of the largest U.S. banks were found to have closed or denied services to cryptocurrency firms and politically controversial businesses without valid reasons. This revelation comes from a recent report by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), a top U.S. banking regulator.
The OCC’s investigation shows that banks targeted companies in the crypto industry, firearms-related businesses, and other politically sensitive sectors. These closures were not based on proper risk assessments, but rather on reputational concerns or political pressure.
This has raised serious questions about the fairness and objectivity of U.S. banking practices. For crypto companies already struggling to find banking partners, such actions only increase the barriers to entry and innovation in the industry.
OCC Calls for Fair Access to Banking Services
In response, the OCC issued a strong reminder to banks: they must not deny services to lawful businesses solely based on industry or perceived controversy. The OCC emphasized that all customers deserve equal access to financial services unless there is a clear and measurable risk involved.
This directive aligns with the OCC’s “Fair Access Rule,” which was originally introduced in 2020 to prevent banks from discriminating against entire industries.
The report did not disclose the names of the banks involved but made clear that regulatory scrutiny is increasing. Crypto advocates have long argued that U.S. banks have unfairly excluded the industry from basic financial infrastructure, and this report gives weight to those concerns.
A Warning to the Financial Sector
The OCC’s findings are a warning to the financial sector: personal or political bias has no place in banking decisions. Regulators expect institutions to serve all lawful businesses fairly and transparently.
For the crypto sector, this report adds fuel to ongoing efforts to secure regulatory clarity and protect industry access to essential banking services. As scrutiny continues, both banks and regulators will be under pressure to ensure equal treatment moving forward.
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