Fed Governor Christopher Waller shrugs off Bitcoin’s 50% slide and outlines 2026 payment account plan

On Monday, Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller told a symposium in La Jolla, California that Bitcoin’s drop from a late-2025 peak of $125,000 to about $60,000–$70,000 is a normal correction, not a systemic failure. He attributed much of the selloff to institutional investors adjusting risk and noted that uncertainty around the stalled CLARITY Act is weighing on sentiment. Waller also said the Fed aims to roll out restricted "payment accounts" for tech and crypto firms by the end of 2026, offering limited access to the central banking system without interest or overdrafts.