Senate Approves Ex-Bitfury Exec Jonathan Gould as OCC Chief

Jonathan Gould’s confirmation as Comptroller of the Currency ends the OCC’s multi-year leadership gap and brings in a permanent chief with extensive agency experience and blockchain expertise. He is positioned to oversee national banks and emerging frameworks for digital assets.

The Senate voted 50–45 to confirm Gould, sending his nomination to President Donald Trump for final approval. Trump tapped Gould in February, citing his blend of regulatory understanding and crypto industry insight amid expanding oversight of financial technologies. Gould previously served as chief legal officer at blockchain firm Bitfury and senior deputy comptroller and chief counsel at the OCC from 2018 to 2021.

Party-Line Vote Reflects Regulatory Divide

Gould’s confirmation largely followed party lines, reflecting Senate Republicans’ support for his pro-innovation record and Democrats’ concerns about potential regulatory capture. He succeeds Acting Comptroller Rodney Hood and becomes the first permanent OCC chief since Joseph Otting’s departure in 2020.

“Jonathan will continue the important work started by Acting Comptroller Hood to return the OCC to its true purpose of chartering and supervising banks to ensure a safe and sound banking system,”

Senate Banking Committee Republicans said in a joint statement.

Under Gould’s leadership, the OCC will continue supervising federally chartered banks and, under the Genius Act, will also oversee certain digital asset issuers, potentially positioning national banks at the forefront of crypto custody and payments services.

Previous OCC Experience and Industry Background

During Gould’s prior tenure as senior deputy comptroller and chief counsel from 2018 to 2021, the agency clarified rules allowing banks to hold crypto assets and removed references to “reputation risk” in guidance, signaling a more permissive approach to digital innovation.

Gould’s crypto credentials stem from his time as chief legal officer at Bitfury, a blockchain-as-a-service provider for enterprises and governments. His return to lead the OCC comes as the agency prepares to implement new regulatory frameworks and navigate evolving fintech challenges.

The OCC, part of the U.S. Treasury, regulates all national banks and federal savings associations across the United States.