Trump Executive Order Orders Review of Crypto and Fintech Rules, Fed to Reassess Payment Access
President Donald Trump has signed an executive order instructing federal financial regulators and the Federal Reserve to reassess rules affecting crypto markets, fintech innovation, and the integration of digital assets into U.S. payment systems.
The order calls on agencies to pinpoint regulatory frictions that curb competition and innovation across financial services. The White House said current policies tend to advantage established financial institutions over newer, technology-driven entrants. Regulators are directed to review guidance, supervisory practices, and application processes, and to identify rules that could be revised to better support innovation and competition. Agencies are also asked to promote growth among fintech firms and federally regulated institutions of all sizes, while keeping safety and soundness standards in place.
The White House said outdated regulations are slowing the incorporation of digital assets into traditional financial services, adding costs and restricting market access.
Separately, the executive order directs the Federal Reserve to conduct a focused review of payment account access for uninsured depository institutions and nonbank fintech firms seeking Reserve Bank payment services. The Fed is instructed to examine its legal authority to extend payment account access, identify legal barriers limiting direct access for fintech firms, and outline potential legislative or regulatory changes. The review also covers risk management requirements tied to expanded access and the policies governing Reserve Bank payment accounts.
The administration framed the directive as a continuation of earlier digital-asset and financial-technology initiatives. In January 2025, Trump signed an order aimed at providing regulatory clarity for digital assets. In March 2025, he signed an order establishing a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and a U.S. Digital Asset Stockpile, and approved measures supporting electronic government payments.
