What it is
The Federal Reserve System—the Fed—is the United States' central bank, established in 1913. Its core mandate spans monetary policy, bank supervision, and financial stability. It is not a securities regulator; rather, it oversees bank holding companies and can set conditions on crypto-asset activities conducted by member banks. In 2026, the Fed shapes crypto indirectly: through supervisory guidance, joint statements with other banking agencies, and its own payments infrastructure research.
Crypto framework and stance
The Fed applies existing banking law and interagency guidance to crypto. In 2023, alongside the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), it issued statements flagging key risks—volatility, fraud, money laundering—tied to crypto-assets. Those statements urged banks to ensure robust risk management before engaging with digital assets.
A significant pivot came in 2025 when the Fed rescinded supervisory letters SR 22-6 and SR 23-8, which had imposed additional hurdles on bank crypto initiatives. This move effectively lowered the compliance bar for banks proposing custody, stablecoin, and tokenization services, so long as they operate within existing safety and soundness frameworks. The Fed has no dedicated crypto rulebook; bank crypto activity remains governed by general prudential standards, including capital and liquidity requirements.
The Fed continues to research central bank digital currency (CBDC) through initiatives like Project Hamilton with MIT, but Chair Powell has repeatedly stated that no digital dollar will be issued without explicit Congressional authorization. FedNow, the instant-payment system launched in 2023, uses real-time settlement but is not built on blockchain—it does, however, blur the lines between traditional payments and the speed that stablecoins offer.
Notable actions
2023: Joint banking agency statements on crypto risks. The Fed, OCC, and FDIC published a series of interagency letters outlining liquidity, contagion, and consumer protection risks in the crypto sector. These statements did not ban crypto but signaled close scrutiny under existing banking rules.
2023: FedNow instant payments launched. The 24/7 settlement rail went live, giving banks a faster alternative to ACH. While not a crypto product, FedNow’s design acknowledged private-sector demand for instant value transfer, a niche that stablecoins had begun to fill.
2025: Rescission of crypto supervisory restrictions. The Fed withdrew SR 22-6 (which required prior notification for crypto activities) and SR 23-8 (which tightened oversight of bank–crypto partnerships). The effect was to clear the way for regulated banks to engage more freely in crypto custody, stablecoin issuance, and distributed ledger technology experimentation without seeking case-by-case approval.
Project Hamilton CBDC research (2021-2023). In collaboration with MIT, the Fed developed a basic CBDC processing system capable of 1.7 million transactions per second. The project concluded without a decision to proceed, leaving CBDC at the conceptual stage.
Key figures
Jerome Powell, Chair since 2018, maintains that the Fed’s primary role is to ensure a safe and efficient payments system. He has expressed cautious openness to digital innovation while stressing the need for Congressional backing before any CBDC launch.
Michelle Bowman, appointed Vice Chair for Supervision in 2025, plays a key role in shaping bank crypto policy. She has voiced support for responsible innovation and advocated proportionate regulation that allows banks to compete with nonbank crypto firms while preserving financial stability.
What it means for users and builders
For crypto builders, the 2025 rescissions are the most tangible benefit. Startups and fintechs that rely on banking partners for fiat on/off-ramps now face fewer supervisory roadblocks. Banks may more readily offer custody for digital assets, stablecoin reserves, or even act as nodes in permissioned blockchain networks—all under existing bank regulation rather than crypto-specific rules.
Users, meanwhile, see indirect effects. A bank custody arrangement for Bitcoin or Ethereum assets becomes more plausible, and stablecoin issuers may find it easier to hold reserves in regulated banks. However, no retail CBDC is imminent, so the prospect of direct Fed accounts for individuals remains remote. FedNow delivers instant settlement for fiat but does not interoperate with blockchain rails.
The line between permissible and risky is still drawn by risk management: any bank engaging with crypto must satisfy examiners on capital, liquidity, and anti-money laundering controls. Nonbank crypto firms remain outside the Fed’s direct purview unless they partner with a supervised institution.
Outlook
The Fed under Bowman’s vice chairmanship is likely to continue rolling back outdated supervisory hurdles, nudging banks toward responsible crypto engagement. Expect more interagency guidance, possibly with clearer paths for stablecoin reserve accounts. A CBDC appears distant—Congressional division and privacy concerns stall legislation. FedNow will expand, but the Fed is unlikely to build blockchain-based settlement soon. The overall trajectory: cautious enablement, not outright endorsement.