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U.S. Finance Regulator Goes After Crypto Wallet Providers

Biden admin regulators go after MetaMask and other wallet providers.
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Jan 10, 20251 min read

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has proposed a new interpretive rule granting them the authority to go after crypto wallet companies as financial institutions.

What’s The Scoop?

  • Proposed Rule: The proposed rule would hold wallet providers like MetaMask and Phantom responsible for fraudulent transactions.
  • Generation of CFPB: The CFPB was created in response to the 2008 financial crisis to protect consumers from malicious financial institutions
  • MetaMask Response: Bill Hughes, Senior Counsel at MetaMask, said in a tweet today “Under this regime, the wallet provider and not the consumer would be responsible for any 'unauthorized transfers' including 'transfers initiated by a person who obtained a consumer’s access device through fraud or robbery . . . [or] when a bad actor obtains a consumer’s account credential through computer hacking or other forms of cyber theft and uses that credential to steal funds.'"

Bankless Take

This “new interpretive rule” seems like nothing but a last-minute attempt by Biden administration regulators to go after crypto. The effort will likely be in vain, as few expect the interpretive rule to be enacted once Trump takes office.

Not financial or tax advice. This newsletter is strictly educational and is not investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any assets or to make any financial decisions. This newsletter is not tax advice. Talk to your accountant. Do your own research.

Disclosure. From time-to-time I may add links in this newsletter to products I use. I may receive commission if you make a purchase through one of these links. Additionally, the Bankless writers hold crypto assets. See our investment disclosures here.

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