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EC Chair Supports Clear Crypto Regulation
According to PANews, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Paul Atkins stated on the X platform that this week is significant for cryptocurrency as Congress is poised to advance 21st-century financial markets. Atkins expressed full support for Congress to clearly define the jurisdictional boundaries between the SEC and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). He emphasized that the most crucial action for investors is to bring the crypto asset market out of regulatory ambiguity. Bipartisan market structure legislation is expected to help guard against poor regulators and ensure the realization of U.S. President Donald Trump's goal of making the United States the global cryptocurrency capital. Atkins looks forward to President Trump signing the bipartisan market structure legislation into law in the coming months. He believes that clear and principled rules based on bipartisan statutory text will foster market innovation while continuing to protect investors.#SEC

Senator Elizabeth Warren, along with other lawmakers, recently sent a letter to the SEC raising concerns that adding cryptocurrency to 401(k) retirement plans would be dangerous and could lead to significant financial harm for millions of Americans.
Key Arguments and Concerns
The letter, also sent to the Department of Labor, emphasizes that cryptocurrencies are a highly volatile and speculative asset class that lacks the necessary guardrails and transparency for secure retirement saving.
Extreme Volatility: Citing a Government Accountability Office (GAO) study, the senators noted that the volatility of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin can be several times higher than that of the S&P 500, posing a major risk to stable, long-term retirement planning.
Lack of Regulation and Scams: The unregulated nature of the crypto market makes it more susceptible to fraud, theft, market manipulation, and scams, which accounted for billions in reported losses in recent years.
No Inherent Value or Cash Flow: The GAO study mentioned that because crypto tokens do not produce cash flow or generate returns like traditional assets (stocks and bonds), profit can only be made by selling them at a higher price, making the investment more akin to gambling.
Illiquidity Concerns: The illiquid nature of some crypto assets can raise serious concerns during economic downturns when retirees might need to access their savings quickly.
Recent Developments
The letter to the SEC follows a recent executive order by President Trump that directed federal agencies to review their positions on alternative assets in retirement plans, aiming to provide broader access to investments like private equity and cryptocurrencies.
The Department of Labor (DOL) has since rescinded its prior 2022 guidance that had advised plan fiduciaries to exercise "extreme care" before offering crypto options, now taking a more neutral stance.
The senators also raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest, referencing reports that the Trump family's financial interests might influence the administration's push for crypto accessibility in retirement plans.
SEC Chair Paul Atkins has indicated a different approach from the previous administration, aiming to "embrace this new area of innovation," but maintains that "fraud is fraud" and will be pursued to the full extent of the law.

#CryptoRisk

#crypto

#ElizabethWarren

#SEC

#401K

Most account closures in the U.S. — a phenomenon known as debanking — are driven more by government pressure than private biases, according to a new report from the Cato Institute. The analysis shows that federal influence over financial institutions is far greater than commonly acknowledged.
What is debanking?
Debanking refers to the sudden and often unexplained termination of accounts — not only by banks, but also by credit unions, crypto exchanges, payment apps, and other financial entities.
Economist Nicholas Anthony explains that debanking typically occurs for one of three reasons:

🔹 Operational grounds, such as the bank no longer wanting to serve a client

🔹 Ideological motives, such as religious or political beliefs

🔹 Government pressure, either direct or indirect
According to Anthony, it is this third category — government-driven closures — that poses the greatest threat.

Hidden Hand: How Washington Influences Account Closures
The Cato Institute warns that U.S. authorities often influence financial institutions behind the scenes, nudging them to drop certain clients. While these closures may appear voluntary, they’re frequently rooted in pressure from federal regulators.
Key findings include:

🔹 72% of conservatives believe the real issue lies in government overreach

🔹 This public sentiment has already begun influencing federal policy, especially during the Trump administration, which issued executive orders on debanking and appointed pro-crypto officials to agencies like the SEC

Legislative Reform Proposed
Anthony argues that the current framework transforms banks into unofficial enforcement arms of federal agencies, incentivizing them to cut ties with clients to reduce regulatory risks.
He proposes three major reforms:

🔹 Repeal secrecy rules that prevent banks from explaining account closures

🔹 Eliminate reputation risk regulations

🔹 Reform the Bank Secrecy Act to protect consumers from arbitrary debanking

Crypto Industry in the Crosshairs
The crypto sector has been particularly vulnerable to debanking. Many firms have found themselves cut off from the traditional banking system — often without warning or justification.
Anthony cites an example where the FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation) allegedly sent private letters to banks, instructing them to cease crypto-related activities — with no timeline, meetings, or explanations. In practice, these letters functioned as “termination orders.”
He also references a 2015 incident where money-transfer businesses serving Somalia were rapidly shut out of the banking system after U.S. authorities launched a crackdown on alleged money laundering.

Community Pushback & JPMorgan Allegations
In a December interview with Fox News, JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon denied claims that the bank had closed customer accounts due to religious or political views. His statement followed accusations from Jack Mallers (CEO of Bitcoin Lightning app Strike) and Houston Morgan, who said their personal accounts were closed without explanation.

Conclusion: The Invisible Hand of the State
The Cato Institute report paints a worrying picture: financial freedom in the U.S. is increasingly shaped by government intervention, not market forces.
Anthony concludes:
“If Congress fails to act, debanking will become a powerful tool — not just against crypto, but against the very principle of free access to financial services.”

#debanking , #DigitalAssets , #CryptoRisks , #JPMorgan , #SEC

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