CFPB eyes big tech’s crypto plans

The crypto ambitions of large technology companies are drawing concern from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

The CFPB is asking that companies share with the agency their plans for the growing asset class, Rohit Chopra, the agency’s director, said on Friday. The bureau is also working other federal regulators to ensure consumers are getting protections as crypto gains more mainstream adoption.

Senate Commerce Committee Hearing On Federal Trade Commission
Rohit Chopra.
Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg News

“We think it’s probably going to happen — if it happens — by riding the rails of some of the big tech companies or some of the other big players,” Chopra said in an interview on Bloomberg Television’s “Balance of Power with David Westin.”

Chopra’s comments come after the White House earlier this week directed agencies across the government, including the CFPB, to study issues related to cryptocurrency. 

“We’re going to be working with the other regulators to figure out how do we make sure that consumers are protected no matter if they’re using cash, credit cards, debit cards, or virtual currencies,” Chopra said in the interview. 

The highest-profile effort yet by a major technology firm to move into the crypto market unraveled earlier this year when an initiative backed by Facebook’s parent Meta Platforms moved to sell its assets. 

Bloomberg News
Regulation and compliance CFPB Cryptocurrency
MORE FROM AMERICAN BANKER