FDIC Discourages Member Bank From Using Public Blockchains Like Ethereum, Newly Released Documents Reveal

Newly obtained documents reveal that the U.S. banking regulator, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), has discouraged a member bank from utilizing public blockchains, highlighting tensions between traditional finance and DeFi.

Documents obtained by Coinbase show that the FDIC raised concerns with a bank that had been exploring the use of Ethereum, a prominent public blockchain, for certain financial activities. The regulator’s main concern appears to be the lack of control and oversight associated with public blockchains, which are decentralized and operate outside the purview of centralized authorities like banks or government institutions. The FDIC expressed worries over the potential for public blockchains to create risks related to transaction privacy, security, and compliance with financial regulations.

One of the primary issues raised by the FDIC in the documents is the challenge of ensuring the privacy and security of sensitive financial data on public blockchains. Since public blockchains like Ethereum are transparent by design, transactions can be viewed by anyone on the network. While transactions are pseudonymous, this transparency poses a risk for banks, which are typically required to comply with strict privacy and data protection regulations.

Additionally, the FDIC highlighted the potential for regulatory uncertainty surrounding the use of public blockchains in banking activities. With many countries still working to establish clear guidelines on cryptocurrency regulation, the FDIC’s concerns reflect broader anxieties about how public blockchain adoption could complicate existing compliance frameworks and expose banks to legal and operational risks.

While the FDIC’s concerns are significant, they also signal the ongoing conversation about the future role of blockchain technology in traditional banking. Although public blockchains like Ethereum present certain risks, their potential for enabling faster, cheaper, and more transparent transactions has led many in the fintech sector to advocate for broader adoption.

Some banks and financial institutions have already begun experimenting with private or permissioned blockchains, which offer greater control and privacy compared to public blockchains. These solutions aim to address some of the concerns raised by regulators while still leveraging the benefits of blockchain technology.

As the regulatory landscape continues to evolve, it’s likely that the FDIC and other financial authorities will continue to assess the risks and rewards of integrating blockchain into the banking system. The tension between innovation and regulation is expected to shape the conversation around the adoption of blockchain technology in traditional finance for the foreseeable future.

Coinbase’s efforts in obtaining and releasing these documents have opened a window into the FDIC’s stance on blockchain adoption, adding to the growing debate about the intersection of cryptocurrency and traditional finance.

By using the FOIA process, Coinbase has once again positioned itself at the center of the conversation about regulatory clarity and the future of cryptocurrency in mainstream finance. As blockchain technology continues to mature, it’s clear that regulators will play a pivotal role in determining the extent to which banks can integrate decentralized systems like Ethereum into their operations. The outcome of this ongoing dialogue will likely have a profound impact on the future of both the banking sector and the broader cryptocurrency market.