New GOP bill targets crypto ‘debanking’ by limiting regulator oversight

Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, the leading Republican on the Senate Banking Committee, has introduced the Financial Integrity and Regulation Management Act.

This legislation aims to prohibit financial regulators from considering reputational risks when supervising banks, a practice critics argue has led to the debanking of cryptocurrency companies, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The term “debanking” refers to financial institutions denying services to certain businesses or individuals, often due to perceived risks to their reputation.

In the crypto sector, companies have reported difficulties securing and maintaining banking relationships, attributing these challenges to banks’ concerns over regulatory scrutiny and potential reputational harm. This has raised alarms about the broader implications for innovation and financial inclusion within the digital asset space .​

Senator Scott’s bill seeks to eliminate the consideration of reputational risk from regulatory assessments, thereby preventing regulators from influencing banks’ decisions to engage with legally operating businesses, including those in the cryptocurrency industry.

The legislation has garnered support from 11 other Republican senators, per the Wall Street Journal, reflecting a concerted effort to address perceived biases against certain sectors.

Crypto debanking

The issue of debanking has been a focal point in recent legislative discussions. In early February, the Senate Banking Committee examined instances where cryptocurrency firms faced challenges in maintaining banking services. 

Supporters of the bill argue that removing reputational risk from regulatory considerations will promote fairness and prevent undue discrimination against lawful businesses. 

However, some industry observers caution that eliminating reputational risk considerations could limit banks’ ability to manage potential threats to their public image and customer trust. 

They argue that reputational risk is a legitimate concern that can impact a bank’s financial stability and should not be entirely disregarded in regulatory assessments.