US Senator Cynthia Lummis said the confirmation of Michelle “Miki” Bowman as Vice Chair for Supervision at the Federal Reserve marks a critical shift in the regulatory approach toward digital assets.

According to Lummis, the appointment is a “turning point” for crypto policy, and she expects a “brighter future” for the industry ahead.

The Senate confirmed Bowman on June 5 in a narrow 48-46 vote, filling the vacancy left by Michael Barr’s departure in February.

Bowman, who has served as a Fed Governor since 2018, will now oversee the central bank’s supervisory framework for major financial institutions and emerging technologies.

Lummis said in a social media post:

“Miki’s commitment to evidence-based regulation over political considerations will strengthen America’s financial system.”

The Wyoming Senator has been a long-time advocate of digital assets and is the main sponsor behind the strategic Bitcoin (BTC) reserve bill.

Support for innovation

Bowman’s confirmation is being closely watched by the crypto industry, which has faced regulatory headwinds in recent years.

During her April nomination hearing before the Senate Banking Committee, Bowman emphasized that US banks must be allowed to adopt new technologies to remain competitive.

At the time, Bowman said that banks must be allowed to consider new technologies that can improve their operations and services. She further stressed that regulators should focus on promoting “sensible innovation.”

While the Federal Reserve does not directly regulate cryptocurrencies, it plays a critical role in determining how the banking sector engages with digital asset firms, stablecoin issuers, and blockchain payment technologies.

Bowman is expected to influence decisions around bank participation in crypto-related services, including custody and settlement.

Industry backing

Bowman’s appointment has been welcomed by industry stakeholders who have long called for regulatory clarity and consistency.

Trade organizations like the Crypto Council for Innovation, which represents major firms including Coinbase and Fidelity, previously supported her nomination based on her experience with community banking and her openness to emerging technologies.

As Vice Chair for Supervision, Bowman will serve a four-year term. Her leadership arrives at a time when Congress is weighing multiple bills to address regulatory gaps in the crypto sector, including proposals focused on stablecoins, custodial services, and digital asset market structure.

The Fed’s evolving posture on fintech and crypto comes amid broader debates in Washington over stablecoin regulation and crypto regulation. With Bowman’s confirmation, crypto advocates hope the central bank will take a more open and structured approach to integrating digital assets into the financial mainstream.

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Cryptocurrency Exchange and Wallet Provider BlockChain.com has taken new steps towards a potential early public offering (IPO) by appointing two veteran executives with financial and operational expertise.

Blockchain.com has hired Justin Evans, who previously worked at Goldman Sachs, as the new Chief Financial Officer. He also appointed Mike Wilcox, former CFO of Velocity Global and former Point72 portfolio manager, as Chief Operating Officer.

Evans said the exchange “will take the necessary steps to become a public company if the open market is available.”

The move comes amidst the gusts of other cryptocurrency companies that they consider to be public, such as Circle, Kraken, Bullish Global (Coindsk’s parent company), Gemini, Ripple and Bitgo.

The adoption of growing institutions after major companies, including BlackRock and Fidelity, has launched the Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) with a more balanced approach to the crypto space. A more advantageous environment for these companies to open up.

BlockChain.com has seen its ratings fluctuate over time. In March 2021, it raised $300 million in a post-money valuation of $5.2 billion in the Series C funding round. In 2022, the funding round closed and increased its valuation to $14 billion, but in November 2023, the $110 million funding round was closed at the valuation of a $7 billion company. Ta.