In a significant move for the financial and cryptocurrency sectors, President Donald Trump has appointed Jonathan Gould, a former senior legal executive at blockchain company Bitfury, as the new head of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). Gould previously served as Senior Deputy Comptroller and Chief Counsel at the OCC and is expected to bring his cryptocurrency expertise into U.S. banking regulations.

A Crypto-Friendly Approach at OCC?

Industry experts suggest that Gould’s appointment signals a continuation of the crypto-friendly stance previously seen under acting OCC Chief Brian Brooks, who once served as CEO of Binance.US. Ron Hammond, a senior director at the Blockchain Association, stated that Gould is in an “excellent position to start working immediately” and may help drive forward key regulatory initiatives surrounding digital assets.

Trump’s Broader Strategy to Support Crypto

Gould’s appointment is part of a wider trend in Trump’s regulatory picks. Other notable nominations include:

  • Brian Quintenz (a16z crypto) as the next Chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).
  • Paul Atkins as the new Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Trump’s administration is actively positioning crypto-friendly regulators in key financial agencies, which could have a lasting impact on the industry.

Regulatory Overhaul in Progress

Reports also indicate that Trump is considering merging the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) with the OCC under the Treasury Department, potentially reshaping financial oversight in the U.S. Meanwhile, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has also seen leadership changes, with acting director Russell Vought suspending enforcement actions over the weekend.

As regulatory bodies shift under Trump’s administration, the crypto industry could see a more favorable environment for blockchain innovation, stablecoin legislation, and institutional crypto adoption.

📢 What do you think about Trump’s latest appointments? Will this benefit the crypto industry? Let us know in the comments!