Senate confirms Jonathan Gould to lead OCC amid crypto expansion
Jonathan Gould approved as OCC head, brings blockchain experience
The U.S. Senate has confirmed Jonathan Gould, the former head of the blockchain division at the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), as the new Comptroller of the Currency.
According to Banking Dive, Gould worked at the OCC for about three years, from 2018 to 2021, serving as Senior Deputy Comptroller and Chief Counsel under the first Trump administration.
Per his LinkedIn profile, he oversaw a team of 230 people who contributed to implementing the Economic Growth Act, which amended Dodd-Frank provisions to reduce the regulatory burden on smaller banks.
During Gould’s tenure, the OCC chartered the first fintech (Varo Bank) and crypto banks (Anchorage Digital).
After leaving public service in 2022, Gould became Chief Legal Officer at blockchain company and miner Bitfury, where he worked alongside former OCC chief Brian Brooks, who also held executive roles at Binance.US and served on the board of MicroStrategy. Gould is currently a partner at the law firm Jones Day in Washington, D.C.
The Senate approved Gould’s nomination by a 50–45 vote. During procedural voting, Senator Cynthia Lummis — a strong crypto advocate — initially voted against Gould, citing the need for further discussion on stablecoin legislation and federal preemption of state banking laws. However, during the final vote later that day, Lummis ultimately voted in favor of his appointment.
“Given Mr. Gould’s background as Senior Deputy Comptroller and Chief Counsel at OCC, along with over a decade of experience in the private sector, he understands the complexities of today’s financial environment and the importance of constructive regulatory-industry engagement to meet consumer needs,” commented Lindsey Johnson, CEO of the Consumer Bankers Association.
Striking a balance between innovation and consumer protection
The OCC has already taken several crypto-friendly steps this year. These include clarifying that U.S. banks may buy and sell crypto assets on their own behalf and removing references to crypto-related reputational risks from its guidelines — though the agency noted it would maintain expectations for sound risk management.
Jonathan Gould is expected to assume office following final confirmation by Donald Trump. He will replace Rodney Hood, former chairman of the National Credit Union Administration, who has served as Acting Comptroller since February.
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