Fed Tightens Oversight of Banks’ Involvement in Cryptocurrency Companies

The Federal Reserve has introduced plans to supervise new actions that embrace cryptocurrencies and different rising asset lessons.

It additionally covers the applying of distributed ledger expertise, which has the potential to have a big impression on the monetary system, to strengthen regulation of banks’ participation in digital belongings, the newest transfer by U.S. regulators to restrict banks’ participation in cryptocurrencies.

Banks which can be members of the Federal Reserve System ought to get hold of a written regulatory no objection from the Fed earlier than issuing, holding or buying and selling dollar-based tokens used to facilitate funds, similar to stablecoins, in keeping with a broadcast define of this system’s targets.

Such banks should exhibit that they’ve taken acceptable measures to mitigate dangers, together with liquidity, cybersecurity and illicit monetary dangers, and exhibit that they monitor these points on an ongoing foundation.

Moreover, regulators will enhance oversight of latest actions similar to crypto asset custody, crypto collateralized lending, facilitating crypto asset buying and selling, and participation in stablecoin/USD token issuance or distribution.

The plan may also concentrate on distributed ledger expertise (DLT) and different technology-driven partnerships with non-bank establishments to offer monetary providers to prospects.

The Fed stated it was engaged on a brand new regulatory program.

To supervise the actions of banks in its system with regard to cryptocurrencies, blockchain expertise and technology-enabled non-bank partnerships, with the goal of complementing its present supervisory processes and enhancing technology-driven regulation.