Crypto debanking: OCC finds bank restrictions but cannot gauge full scale

The US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has identified bank policies restricting digital asset businesses in a 47-page review of nine major banks, but has been unable to measure the full extent of debanking. Summary Nine major banks were reviewed, but the OCC could not quantify debanking across the financial system. Digital asset issuers, exchanges and administrators faced restrictions often linked to financial crime concerns. The report provided no specific examples of debanking tied to digital asset activities. The review followed President Donald Trump’s August 2025 executive order against unlawful debanking. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency said in its Wednesday release that certain banks maintained “public and nonpublic policies” limiting services to industries including digital assets, oil and gas, tobacco and firearms. In the agency’s account, restrictions affected several types of crypto businesses rather than a single activity or service. Its findings named issuers, exchanges and administrators among the digital asset businesses subject to bank policies. “Many institutions also placed restrictions on banking digital asset activities, including on issu...