White House AI Crypto Czar to Probe SEC led Operation Choke Point 2.0

David Sacks, the newly appointed White House AI and Crypto Czar, took cognizance of rising criticism against United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) led Operation Choke Point 2.0 where allegations have surfaced that it had intentionally “de-banked” three crypto businesses (Signature, Silvergate, and Silicon Valley Bank) in March 2023.

Responding to Chris Lane, the son of Silvergate CEO Alan Lane, Sacks said the allegations against Operation Choke Point 2.0 must be looked into.

Background on Operation Choke Point 2.0

For those who don’t know, Operation Choke Point 2.0 refers to a contemporary effort by U.S. government regulators to restrict banking services available to cryptocurrency firms. This initiative is seen as a continuation or revival of the original Operation Choke Point under the Obama administration, which targeted high-risk industries, such as payday lenders and gun sellers.

However, various critics argue that pressuring banks to sever ties with crypto-related businesses, will hinder the growth of the cryptocurrency sector.

David Sacks Responds To Chris Lane’s Post

On December 7, 2024, the newly appointed White House AI and Crypto Czar , responded to a post by Chris Lane, a former CTO of Silvergate. Sacks demanded a review of Operation Choke Point 2.0 as this operation hurt many people.

In the X post, Chris Lane shared his personal view on the whole scenario. He expressed deep concern over the impact of regulatory actions on the crypto-banking infrastructure. He recounted how Silvergate’s SEN network was pivotal for cryptocurrency transactions but faced sudden regulatory restrictions that threatened its viability.

Sacks highlighted that the regulatory actions impacted their business badly and were responsible for Silvergate’s demise.  He characterized their situation as,

Operation Chokepoint 2.0: A black Spot On the Crypto Industry

More than 30 tech and cryptocurrency founders in the U.S. have claimed they were denied banking services, in the name of “Operation Chokepoint 2.0.”  The issue gained attention after Marc Andreessen, co-founder of Andreessen Horowitz, discussed it on The Joe Rogan Experience, stating that many tech founders had been “debanked” for political reasons. 

Moreover, another industry figure Andrew Torba, stated that multiple banks were closed their account saying regulatory bodies pressured banks with threats of audits and regulatory action.

Coming to the current situation, the recent development revealed, that internal communications from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) were released, revealing that the agency had indeed coordinated efforts to limit banking services for crypto-related businesses. This information emerged after a lawsuit by Coinbase prompted the release of heavily redacted documents.

The FDIC’s communications included requests for the banks to restrict their services to crypto-related firms. This contradicted previous denials from regulators that they pressured these banks to stop serving crypto clients.

Conclusion

The present situation has raised concerns about government overreach and its implications. The crypto industry has already faced several regulatory hurdles for a decade and the current revelations show the government’s biased attitude towards the industry.