Jonathan Gould’s reign as Comptroller of the Currency could signal an even greater crypto push by the US
The US Senate has named Jonathan Gould as the next Comptroller of the Currency, approving his five-year term by a 50-45 vote on July 10.
Gould will lead the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), the federal agency responsible for supervising and regulating national banks and federal savings associations across the US.
The OCC plays a central role in chartering banks, conducting examinations and enforcing compliance with anti-money laundering (AML) rules, consumer protection standards and broader financial regulations.
Gould was first nominated in February and will replace Rodney E. Hood, who had served as Acting Comptroller of the Currency while Gould awaited confirmation.
“I am confident that Mr. Gould’s talented leadership and critical expertise will benefit the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency,” said Hood in a statement following the confirmation.
“His long-standing commitment to public service and private sector experience have prepared him to quickly advance meaningful reforms that will benefit the federal banking system.
“Mr. Gould understands the critical importance of right-sizing regulations to be appropriately tailored, embracing innovation in the banking sector, and ensuring fair access to financial services.”
Who is Jonathan Gould?
Gould, 47, began his public service as Counsel and later Chief Counsel for the Senate Banking Committee, where he advised lawmakers on financial policy and regulation. He then joined the OCC as Senior Deputy Comptroller and Chief Counsel from 2018 to 2021.
During his earlier OCC tenure, he played a central role in modernising financial rules, including leading updates to the Volcker Rule and overseeing the chartering of the first fintech and crypto banks.
In the private sector, Gould’s experience involves traditional finance and emerging technologies. He has served as a Director at BlackRock, Chief Legal Officer at blockchain firm Bitfury and a Partner at Jones Day, advising major financial institutions on regulatory and innovation strategies.
He also held the role of General Counsel at SIFMA, representing securities firms on Capitol Hill and with federal regulators.
What Gould’s confirmation signals
President Donald Trump nominated Gould in February and became the first Senate-confirmed Comptroller of the Currency since Joseph Otting, who stepped down in 2020.
While Gould hasn’t yet outlined a formal agenda, his confirmation hearing in March offered a preview of what’s to come. He pledged to crack down on politically motivated de-banking, revise how reputation risk is used as a supervisory tool and stressed the need to allow banks to take prudent risks.
These areas all align with a broader deregulatory approach, which the payments sector has seen from the Trump administration so far.
Despite wider expectations, many believe Gould’s greatest impact will be on crypto. In March, he stated “digital asset activities are clearly legally permissible,” arguing banks should be allowed to embrace crypto services.
He has also supported granting federal charters to fintech and crypto banks and approving services such as crypto custody and stablecoin reserve management.
Given this track record of championing the sector and efforts to bring it into the mainstream, his confirmation further boosts the US’s ambitions to become the crypto capital of the world.
