The Federal Reserve chair said banks are well situated to handle risks related to crypto customers, but added that regulatory scrutiny of banks' direct engagement with the assets will be greater than for simple custody arrangements.

The nation's central bank held interest rates steady in its first decision of the year.

The Federal Reserve's monetary policy group is expected to hold rates steady, but the chairman will face a litany of questions about the year ahead and on the inflationary impact of implications of the Trump administration's early policy moves.

Citing concerns about going outside its statutory mandate, the Federal Reserve Board of Governors voted to leave the Network of Central Banks and Supervisors for Greening the Financial System.

With the Federal Reserve touting a slower pace of easing, markets are expecting a longer pause. But Gov. Christopher Waller said the next interest rate reduction could come as soon as March because of inflation data.

These regulatory announcements in the banking industry are currently open to public comment.

The Labor Department estimates the economy added 256,000 jobs in December, indicating a resilient economy and labor market. For the Federal Reserve, which was already signaling a slowdown in rate cuts, the reading could justify holding rates steady.

Seen by many as a logical pick for the Federal Reserve's next vice chair for supervision, Gov. Michelle Bowman wants the institution to focus on safety and soundness issues, tailoring and transparency.

Michael Barr's surprise announcement that he will step down as the Federal Reserve's chief regulator could ultimately mean little for the central bank's approach to regulation under the incoming Trump administration.

The Federal Open Market Committee cut the fed funds target again in December but signaled fewer cuts in 2025. There was some dissent. The markets are watching to see if the Federal Reserve pauses its easing cycle in January. Brian Rehling, head of global fixed-income strategy at Wells Fargo Investment Institute, recaps and parses the previous day's FOMC meeting and Fed Chair Jerome Powell's press conference.

Analysts are unsure what the Federal Open Market Committee will do with monetary policy in 2025. The panel projects two rate cuts, but some analysts expect more, and others see fewer.

Banks such as TD, Wells Fargo and Bank of America drew attention this year for money-laundering issues. That's one of several top regulatory news items in 2024.

The Federal Reserve is poised to make several key decisions during the year ahead that will impact monetary policy both in the near term and for years to come.

The Bank Policy Institute, the American Bankers Association and others said proposed changes would address "some if not all" of banks' concerns about stress tests, but they are filing the lawsuit to preserve their legal right to do so.

The Federal Reserve will seek comment on the current stress-testing regime with an eye toward increasing transparency and reducing volatility. Modifications would not go into effect until at least 2026.

The U.S. is risking the status of the dollar as the world's reserve currency by delaying the launch of a central bank digital currency. Adopting a "federated" version of a CBDC could answer the concerns of many skeptics.

The Federal Reserve issued an enforcement action against Lineage Bank's holding company, following a similar move by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. earlier this year.

Proposals to streamline U.S. banking regulators have resurfaced with the Trump administration's focus on efficiency, but experts and history suggest such changes are unlikely amid political and industry resistance.

Letters hint at more oversight of the banking agencies, as well as the Treasury Department, the CFPB and the Securities and Exchange Commission, under the Republican-controlled Senate.

A week ahead of inauguration day, Scott Colbert, executive vice president, director of fixed income and chief economist at Commerce Trust, takes a look at how the Federal Reserve and the economy will fare in President-elect Donald Trump's second run in the White House.