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# Trump Picks Crypto Supporter to Steer the OCC: Who’s Jonathan Gould?
* The affirmation sessions for Jonathan Gould to turn into the top of the OCC are set for Thursday.
* He has reliably voiced backing for the digital currency area.
If everything works out positively, Gould will prevail over Rodney E. Hood, who started filling in as Acting Comptroller of the Currency in February.
Before the current week’s over, a conspicuous digital currency advocate could turn into the head of a U.S. banking controller.
Agents of the digital money area have invited the selection, accepting it demonstrates that the Workplace of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) will work with Congress to foster more good guidelines for the area.
Gould is one of a progression of people named by President Donald Trump to fill key government positions with allies of the digital currency area.
Whether Gould turns into the following Comptroller of the Currency relies upon his presentation at the affirmation hearing on Thursday.
Paul Atkins, Trump’s chosen one for head of the Protections and Trade Commission (SEC), will likewise go to an affirmation hearing on Walk 27.
## What is the OCC?
Notoriety risk issues are at the core of the debate over digital currency de-banking, which reappeared in November after financial backer goliath Marc Andreessen showed up on Joe Rogan’s webcast.
On Thursday, the OCC declared it would eliminate references to “notoriety risk” from its direction and require organization commentators to eliminate it from their records.
The OCC’s job is to regulate public banks and government reserve funds affiliations and is liable for implementing banking guidelines.
The digital currency area claims that the Biden organization is effectively teaching banks to decline banking administrations to digital currency organizations.
Not every person concurs with the case of digital currency de-banking. Pundits call attention to that banks frequently stay away from or desert participation with high-risk organizations.
According to Patrick McKenzie, an advisor to Stripe, a major player in the payment sector, banks frequently lower the risk on their financial statements by getting rid of customers who are excessively risky, as he noted in one of his articles.
## Who is Jonathan Gould, exactly?
Gould is slated to provide testimony on Thursday in light of this.
He holds degrees in history from Princeton University and law from Washington and Lee University.
Gould, a seasoned Wall Street professional, worked for the investment behemoth BlackRock and held the position of financial regulatory advisor in the sector before joining the OCC as Senior Deputy Comptroller and Chief Counsel.
He held that post until 2021, according to his LinkedIn profile.
He served as Chief Legal Officer at the cryptocurrency business Bitfury from February to September 2022.
Gould has been a partner at the law firm Jones Day in Washington, D.C. ever since. The Rise of Ethereum Applications: The Emergence of Stablecoins Issued by Banks
Rob Nichols, president and CEO of the American Bankers Association, stated in February following Trump’s nomination that Gould’s experience would “benefit the agency in its crucial mission of fostering a robust and sound national banking system.”
## Gould’s Background in Cryptocurrency
Gould has a history of backing cryptocurrency causes in addition to his work at Bitfury.
In 2023, he gave testimony to Congress in which he suggested that cryptocurrency firms be de-banked.
He stated that “the ambiguous and occasionally changing definitions used in institutional guidance [regarding digital assets] may make banks reluctant to use any distributed ledger technology or decentralized network.”
*Andrew Flanagan covers the market for DL News. Do you have a suggestion? Contact him at [email protected].*
