Nominated former OCC official Gould for agency leadership role
New Leadership at the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency: Jonathan Gould
The Trump administration has appointed Jonathan Gould as the new head of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), a move that could signal a shift in the agency's approach to banking and cryptocurrency regulation.
Gould, who previously served in senior roles at the OCC during the first Trump administration, is expected to advance a lenient oversight model toward cryptocurrency under the current administration. His confirmation as OCC head in 2025 was backed by several crypto and fintech groups, reflecting his pro-crypto position.
In his previous stint at the OCC, Gould was instrumental in chartering the first fintech (Varo Bank) and crypto banks (Anchorage Digital). He also implemented the Economic Growth Act, which amended provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act by lessening the regulatory burden on smaller banks.
Since September 2022, Gould has been a partner at law firm Jones Day in Washington, D.C. From February 2022 to September 2022, he served as the chief legal officer at blockchain firm Bitfury. According to his LinkedIn profile, he led a team of 230 people at the OCC.
Gould's tenure at the OCC is expected to see modernization of supervisory practices and increased collaboration across regulatory agencies. His stance aligns with the Trump administration’s more permissive attitude toward cryptocurrencies and lighter bank regulation, contrasting with tighter oversight efforts seen during the Biden administration’s acting OCC chiefs.
The Senate Banking Committee is expected to set a date for a nomination hearing for Gould. If confirmed, he will replace Rodney Hood, who was appointed to the OCC position in an acting capacity.
Former Acting Comptroller of the Currency Brian Brooks, who was Gould's boss at the OCC for a time, worked at Bitfury, Binance.US, and is currently on the board at crypto-friendly business intelligence firm MicroStrategy. Ian Moloney, senior vice president and head of policy and regulatory affairs at the American Fintech Council, expressed support for Gould’s nomination, citing his commitment to creating a financial system that supports innovation and consumer protection.
Under Gould's leadership, the OCC has moved away from Biden-era crypto guidance and climate risk rules and has committed to less restrictive bank supervision, including on crypto activities. He is also tasked with implementing Trump's recently signed legislation establishing a regulatory framework for stablecoins.
Gould, like many of President Donald Trump's nominees, seems more amenable to crypto than the chief banking regulators seen during the Biden administration. His confirmation as OCC head reflects a continuation and institutionalization of the Trump administration's crypto-supportive policies at the OCC.
[1] American Banker, "Trump names Jonathan Gould to lead OCC", 2025 [2] The Block, "Jonathan Gould confirmed as OCC head", 2025 [3] CoinDesk, "Trump signs stablecoin bill into law", 2023 [4] American Fintech Council, "Statement on Jonathan Gould's nomination", 2025 [5] Cointelegraph, "OCC under Gould moves away from Biden-era crypto guidance", 2025
- As the new head of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), Jonathan Gould is expected to advance a lenient oversight model toward fintech and cryptocurrency, given his pro-crypto stance.
- During his tenure at the OCC, Gould implemented changes that include chartering the first fintech and crypto banks, lessening regulatory burden on smaller banks, and committing to less restrictive bank supervision, including on crypto activities.
