OCC Report: Some Banks Have Restricted Digital Asset Business Services

Odaily News: The U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) has released a report on "debanking," stating that some banks have used public and non-public policies to restrict financial services for multiple industries, including crude oil, natural gas, tobacco, firearms, and digital assets. The report notes that some institutions restricted digital asset businesses, including issuers, exchanges, and managers, often citing financial crime concerns as the reason.

The OCC stated that the report was prepared in accordance with an executive order signed by Donald Trump in August 2025, which aims to prevent what it calls "illegal debanking." The report reviewed 9 major banks but did not list specific cases related to digital asset businesses, nor did it comprehensively quantify the scope of debanking or related allegations.

OCC head Jonathan Gould said that some debanking decisions related to coal and firearms were not based on financial risk, with banks citing reputational risks from negative news, public protests, and support for related industries. In November 2024, more than 30 tech and crypto industry executives said they were unable to access banking services. (Cointelegraph)