OCC chief rejects claims of doing President Trump’s bidding at hearing

Jonathan Gould told lawmakers Democrats were the only group pressuring his agency, as the session also highlighted coming stablecoin KYC rules and a split over their use in payments.

Summary

OCC chief Jonathan Gould told lawmakers at a congressional hearing that he was not acting at Donald Trump’s direction and said Democrats were the only group exerting political pressure on his agency. The hearing also turned to the GENIUS Act and the regulatory path for stablecoins, with FDIC Chair Travis Hill saying KYC rules for stablecoin issuers are coming soon. Lawmakers and regulators were divided over stablecoins’ role in payments, underscoring how political scrutiny of financial watchdogs is unfolding alongside debate over U.S. crypto legislation.

Terms & Concepts
  • GENIUS Act: U.S. legislation aimed at creating rules for stablecoins.
  • stablecoin: A digital token designed to maintain a fixed value, often by being pegged to a currency.
  • KYC: Know-your-customer checks used to verify customer identities and help prevent illicit finance.