Banks warier of serving crypto clients after blowups, regulatory scrutiny
US banks, already hesitant to work with crypto customers, are now even warier of providing services to the industry after a string of regional-lender collapses and amid heightened scrutiny by regulators. The closure of crypto-friendly Silvergate Capital Corp. and seizure of Signature Bank has left crypto firms struggling to find new banks for depository and payment services. While there's no blanket ban on serving crypto clients, financial firms are imposing lengthy application procedures, turning away smaller companies and some retail platforms, and in some cases shutting the door on crypto businesses altogether, according to industry participants, investors and bank executives. Cross River Bank, for example, received requests from more than 100 new clients not all of whom were crypto companies seeking a safe harbor for their deposits within days of SVB Financial Group's Silicon Valley Bank and Signature collapsing, according to a person with direct knowledge of the bank's business. The closely held company turned down almost all those requests, the person said. The bank is «only considering companies with existing relationships with Cross River that are blue-chip customers and integral to the fintech ecosystem,» said Eden Hoffman, a spokesperson for the Fort Lee, New Jersey-based lender. Among the few crypto companies that have won over the bank is stablecoin issuer Circle Internet Financial., which expanded a partnership with Cross River, announced after Silicon Valley Bank failed.
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