Travis Hill Nominated as FDIC Chair, Signaling Pro-Crypto Shift

President Donald Trump has nominated Travis Hill, the acting chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), to officially lead the agency. Hill, a former Senate Banking Committee staffer, has taken a firm stance against “debanking” practices that have historically targeted cryptocurrency companies and other industries banks label as high-risk. His nomination could mark a significant turning point for crypto-friendly banking policy in the U.S.

Hill has been outspoken about the FDIC’s previous resistance to digital asset banking. He criticized the regulator’s role in discouraging banks from engaging with the crypto sector, which came to light after Coinbase’s Freedom of Information Act campaign revealed letters cautioning banks about crypto relationships. Since taking his interim position, Hill has pushed for more transparency, releasing additional communications that highlighted the regulator’s past efforts to pressure banks.

In a major policy reversal earlier this year, Hill announced that banks no longer need prior government approval to engage in new cryptocurrency-related activities. This shift represented a break from earlier FDIC policies that effectively limited banking access for digital asset businesses.

Despite his nomination, Hill’s appointment is not yet secure—he must be confirmed by the Senate before officially assuming the chairmanship. Currently, Hill is the only dedicated FDIC director, as the board also includes leaders from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The slow pace of appointments to financial regulators under Trump has left many agencies with acting heads, but even interim leaders have been advancing policies favorable to crypto innovation.

With the FDIC playing a central role in the industry’s banking challenges, Hill’s potential confirmation signals that the Trump administration remains committed to fostering a pro-crypto regulatory environment, even as the sector continues to navigate political and financial scrutiny.