Coinbase's Chief Legal Officer, Paul Grewal, has criticized the FDIC for its lack of cooperation and transparency in the investigation of Operation Choke Point 2.0. Grewal accused the FDIC of withholding critical information related to their Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) practices and failing to disclose details about their handling of the operation. While the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) has rolled back 2020 guidance, allowing banks to engage with custody service providers, the FDIC has been reluctant to cooperate. The recent White House Crypto Summit highlighted the rollback of Biden-era banking regulations linked to Operation Choke Point 2.0, signaling potential changes in the crypto industry. Despite these developments, the FDIC continues to resist transparency efforts, raising concerns about their handling of FOIA requests.

HIGHLIGHTS Coinbase said that FDIC failed to disclose details about their handling of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) practices. On the other hand, the US OCC has rolled back 2020 guidance while allowing banks to engage with custody service providers.  The recent White House Crypto Summit highlights rolling back of Biden-era banking regulations linked to Operation Choke Point 2.0. Crypto exchange Coinbase has stated that the Federal Deposit Insurance Cooperation (FDIC) has refused to cooperate in Operation Choke Point 2.0 investigation while denying transparency on their part. While other agencies like the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) rolled back in 2020 guidance, agencies like the FDIC have been reluctant on this matter.
Coinbase CLO Blames FDIC for Refusal on Transparency
In a message on the X platform, Coinbase CLO Paul Grewal lashed out at the FDIC for its refusal to cooperate and resist basic transparency efforts towards unwinding of the Operation Choke Point 2.0. This operation major led to the debanking of crypto companies with the goal of leaving them dry of liquidity. Speaking on it, Grewal wrote:
"They haven't gotten the message. Despite a huge week for crypto across the rest of the federal government, on this late Friday night over at FDIC staff still continue to resist basic transparency into Operation Chokepoint 2.0".
The crypto exchange asked the regulatory agency on how they conducted the "due diligence" to ensure no documentation related to the event was destroyed. However, according to Grewal, the agency has "repeatedly refused" to provide this information.

He also stated that FDIC has been withholding key information related to its Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) practices, and has only provided "snippets from a few documents" that appear unrelated to the specific FOIA policies or practices challenged in the amended complaint filed by History Associates.

“What exactly are they hiding?” Grewal questioned FDIC, highlighting concerns over the agency's transparency in handling FOIA requests.
Developments in Operation Choke Point 2.0 Elimination
Fox Business journalist Eleanor Terret stated that the recent White House Crypto Summit highlights major regulatory changes that would be coming to the crypto industry. During his remarks at the event, President Donald Trump referenced the rollback of Biden-era banking regulations, which critics say facilitated "Operation Chokepoint 2.0".

While the FDIC is not cooperating on the matter, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) is reversing 2020 guidance that restricted banks from engaging with and providing custody services for cryptocurrencies.

"This rollback is a major signal the industry and banks have been waiting for," Terret stated. She added that it could pave the way for financial institutions to begin actively participating in the digital assets space.

Coinbase Criticizes FDIC for Lack of Transparency in Operation Choke Point 2.0 Investigation