Senator Cynthia Lummis Cites Federal Reserve Oversight Record and Calls for Accountability

The senator said her work since 2020 included scrutiny of Federal Reserve (U.S. central bank) governance, support for Custodia and Kraken, and criticism of reputational risk supervision.

Summary

Senator Cynthia Lummis said she has led oversight of the Federal Reserve (U.S. central bank) since 2020, pointing to actions she says included exposing alleged influence peddling involving Sarah Bloom Raskin, challenging the use of reputational risk in supervision, and supporting Custodia and Kraken in their dealings with regulators. She also referenced support for proposals associated with Christopher Waller, a Federal Reserve governor, and said there is an opportunity for accountability under Chair Warsh. The statement centers on U.S. banking oversight and its relevance to crypto firms seeking access to financial infrastructure.

Terms & Concepts
  • Reputational risk: A supervisory concept used by banks and regulators to assess whether relationships or activities could harm an institution’s public standing.
  • Federal Reserve: The U.S. central bank, which oversees monetary policy and supervises parts of the banking system.
  • Crypto banking access: The ability of digital asset firms to obtain bank accounts, payment rails, or other regulated financial services.