Trump Criticises Debanking, Hints at Better Outlook for Crypto

President Donald Trump has criticised the controversial practice of debanking, warning it poses serious risks to businesses. When asked whether he plans to sign an executive order to address the issue—one that many in the crypto space say has negatively affected them—Trump stopped short of confirming but made it clear the problem remains unresolved.

Regulators, Not Banks, to Blame—Trump Points to Political Pressure

The president on Friday expressed concern about banks denying access not for legal reasons but due to outside influence, telling Decrypt reporter Sander Lutz that the growing role of regulators in directing banks’ actions is dangerous. He stated:

 Those people are very bad and very dangerous, and they shouldn’t be doing it.

His comments reflect frustrations raised by many crypto leaders, who say they’ve been targeted by banks simply for operating in the digital asset space.

According to Trump, the core issue lies not with banks themselves but with the federal regulators behind them. He said most bank executives are not acting independently but rather under pressure from government agencies. 

Trump explained that the presidents of even the largest banks fear regulatory bodies , knowing they could face severe consequences for noncompliance. He also claimed that this environment has been shaped by past instructions, possibly from within the Biden administration.

He added that he himself had previously experienced being shut out of the financial system, calling the system “nasty”.

I can tell you, because I’ve been a victim myself, because of my politics, that big banks were very nasty to us. And I actually think it was Biden’s people that told him to be because the one group of people the banks are afraid of are the regulators. They are petrified of the regulators. And I’ve seen the biggest banker, I can tell you, you see him on television all the time, if a regulator walked into the room, he gets all nervous and crazy. They’re afraid of the regulators.

President Donald Trump

Crypto Industry Claims Targeted Treatment

The debanking trend has raised ongoing concern in the crypto industry, where for years many founders and operators have said their accounts were shut down without cause. Some believe this is part of a wider effort to isolate the sector.

In a November 2024 podcast appearance, a16z co-founder Marc Andreessen said over 30 crypto founders had been debanked in the last four years. Industry figures have labelled this ongoing effort “Operation Choke Point 2.0”. 

The lack of clear guidelines and the absence of formal charges against those affected have only added to industry frustration. This treatment could be seen as undermining fair access to banking and restricting growth in a sector where the United States has long held a leading position.

Executive Order Plans Delayed

The Trump administration planned to sign an executive order on debanking in March but paused the effort shortly before it could be finalised. On Friday, Trump indicated that the issue is still ongoing, without providing a definitive update on whether the order will be revived.

Recent reports from the Wall Street Journal indicate that White House officials are once again considering bringing the executive order back to the table , signalling renewed focus on addressing debanking.

An executive order on debanking could offer significant benefits to the crypto industry, addressing key challenges.

• It would help ensure crypto firms maintain reliable access to banking services.
• Clearer regulatory guidance would reduce uncertainty for crypto businesses.
• The order could reverse exclusionary practices against the crypto sector.
• It may ease ongoing pressures caused by current restrictive policies.

This potential move aligns with President Donald Trump’s recent shift towards crypto-friendly regulation. Notably, he supported the GENIUS Act, a bill regulating stablecoins that was recently passed by the U.S. Senate. Meanwhile, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has indicated that banks can engage in crypto activities as long as they maintain safety and financial stability.