Nominated Veteran Officer Gould Tapped for Agency Leadership
Jonathan Gould, a seasoned banking and cryptocurrency regulatory expert, has been nominated by President Donald Trump to lead the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). The U.S. Senate confirmed Gould's appointment in July 2025, marking a significant step towards integrating cryptocurrencies within the traditional banking system.
Gould's extensive background includes a stint as the OCC's senior deputy comptroller and chief counsel, and as Chief Legal Officer at blockchain infrastructure firm BitFury. In his previous role at the OCC, he chartered the first fintech (Varo Bank) and crypto banks (Anchorage Digital).
As a strong proponent of cryptocurrency within federal banking regulation, Gould is expected to continue fostering a crypto-friendly environment at the OCC. This includes building on recent regulatory guidance that allows U.S. banks to buy, sell, and custody crypto assets on their own behalf.
Gould's nomination and confirmation reflect a continuation or revival of the pro-crypto stance initiated during Trump’s tenure and carried forward in part by Acting Comptroller Rodney Hood. Under Hood’s brief leadership, the OCC rescinded some Biden-era regulatory guidance that had been more cautious regarding crypto.
Gould pledged to focus on issues like "de-banking," particularly addressing the concern that some banks have ceased serving certain conservative-leaning clients. This emphasis aligns with a Republican-led emphasis on reducing what they call politically motivated banking exclusions.
If confirmed, Gould will replace Rodney Hood in the OCC role. The Senate Banking Committee is likely to set a date for a nomination hearing for Gould.
The Consumer Bankers Association and the American Fintech Council have both expressed support for Gould's nomination. Ian Moloney, senior vice president and head of policy and regulatory affairs at the AFC, supports Gould's nomination, citing his commitment to creating a financial system that supports responsible innovation and consumer protection.
Since leaving the OCC, Gould has been a partner at law firm Jones Day in Washington, D.C., and was chief legal officer at blockchain firm Bitfury from February 2022 to September 2022. Brian Brooks, former Acting Comptroller of the Currency and Gould's OCC boss for a time, has worked at Binance.US and currently sits on the board at crypto-friendly business intelligence firm MicroStrategy.
This news comes as the latest developments in U.S. financial regulation regarding digital assets. Gould's leadership at the OCC is expected to signify a likelihood of continued crypto accommodation in national banking policy over the next several years.
[1] The Hill
[2] Bloomberg
[3] CoinDesk
[4] American Banker
- Gould's extensive background in finance, business, and technology, particularly his experience in regulatory matters related to cryptocurrency, makes him an ideal candidate to foster a crypto-friendly environment at the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC).
- The continued support for Gould's nomination from organizations like the Consumer Bankers Association and the American Fintech Council suggests a positive outlook towards integrating technology-based businesses, such as cryptocurrency, within the traditional banking system.
