Fed Removes Restrictions on Banks Participating in Cryptocurrency and Stablecoin Activities

Before this, the Federal Reserve had enforced restrictions that prohibited banks from participating in cryptocurrency and stablecoin activities without prior consent.

The Federal Reserve has canceled a requirement for prior consent before banks can participate in cryptocurrency and stablecoin activities. This was announced by the central bank on April 24, 2025.

It follows other rescissions by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) that have also pulled their crypto guidance. Now, banks can supervise these digital asset activities as they would any other banking service on a normal basis.

A New Era for Crypto Banking

The move from the Federal Reserve also reverses a 2022 supervisory letter that had instructed banks to inform regulators before they engage in crypto business. A similar rescission was also placed on a 2023 letter that imposed similar stablecoin activities. “The Board is rescinding its 2022 supervisory letter establishing an expectation that state member banks provide advance notification of planned or current crypto-asset activities,” the Federal Reserve stated in its announcement.

In doing this, it removes a massive obstacle for banks in offering crypto services such as custody, trading, or stablecoin issuance. Previously, banks had to deal with these risks, so they were discouraged from getting into the space.

The action is part of a wider effort to bring digital assets to traditional finance. Crypto banks such as Custodia and Kraken Financial have long sought more access to Federal Reserve services, including master accounts, for years. The new policy could enable such institutions to extend their range of amenities.

Implications for the Financial Sector

The adoption of cryptocurrency by more conventional banks is likely to accelerate as a result of this. This is now allowing banks to create crypto-related products without going through a pre-clearance process, which can increase liquidity in digital currency markets.

The transition occurs within a more advantageous regulatory framework established by the administration. That is seen as moving toward fulfilling the guarantees made in the battle to evade banks from restrictions for blockchain.

However, the banks that engage in crypto activities will be monitored. The Federal Reserve said that standard supervisory processes would be used to monitor these activities to ensure that existing rules are followed. In this case, it suggests innovation and at the same time avoids the financial crisis.

This might also help develop stablecoins, digital currencies pegged to assets like the U.S. Stablecoins have been paid more heed on account of their capacity to empower fast, minimal expense exchanges.

Smaller banks and fintechs may get the most out of the relaxed rules, as they will now be able to compete with large institutions on offering crypto services. This would let in new products like crypto custody solutions or blockchain-based payments systems.

If banks are exploring these opportunities and if the financial sector is to enter a phase of blockchain technology integration, then so it will be.