Brian Armstrong, Elon Musk Slam Biden Administration Over ‘Mass Debanking’

As a seasoned analyst with years of experience navigating the complexities of political and technological landscapes, I find the recent accusations levied by Brian Armstrong, Elon Musk, and Caitlin Long against prominent political figures during the Biden administration particularly intriguing. The allegations of secretive actions leading to mass debanking in the technology and cryptocurrency sectors are not only concerning but also reminiscent of a cat-and-mouse game between innovators and regulators, a dance I’ve seen play out many times before.


CEO Brian Armstrong of Coinbase and tech magnate Elon Musk have asserted that notable political figures like Senator Elizabeth Warren and SEC Chair Gary Gensler are orchestrating a wide-scale campaign, dubbed “mass debanking,” which allegedly aims to restrict the technology and cryptocurrency sectors under the Biden administration.

The comments were made after it became known about clandestine actions, supposedly leading to the unannounced shutdown of bank accounts belonging to numerous tech innovators, leaving them with no opportunity to appeal.

Crypto Leaders Strong Rebuke of the Biden Administration

On X, previously known as Twitter, Armstrong criticized the bank discontinuations as both unethical and not in line with American values. He specifically called out Warren and Gensler, alleging that they were trying to illegally destroy the cryptocurrency sector.

In simpler terms, Brian Armstrong, a top executive at Coinbase, suggested that the Democratic Party may benefit from distancing itself from Senator Elizabeth Warren if they aim to regain political ground following their recent election loss, as he believes her actions might have played a role in their defeat.

Additionally, it was disclosed that Coinbase employs Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) petitions to shed light on the entirety of this matter, sparking concerns about possible legal infractions.

According to Armstrong’s statement, we are continuing to gather documents through Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, hoping that this process will reveal the truth about who played a role and if any laws were violated. He asserts that Warren and Gensler attempted to illegally destroy our entire industry, which he believes significantly contributed to the Democrats losing the election.

In simpler terms, Armstrong’s comments sparked a similar debate as the one Elon Musk is involved in. Musk, the CEO of SpaceX and an advocate for free speech and innovation, was speaking about during his interview with Joe Rogan, which also featured Marc Andreessen, co-founder of Andreessen Horowitz.

“Did you know that 30 tech founders were secretly debanked?” Musk remarked.

During the interview, Andreessen claimed that approximately thirty tech entrepreneurs had been “covertly shut out” from banking services. He referred to this action as a demonstration of “hidden government influence.” This points to concerns about secrecy and highlights potential wider issues concerning liberty and technological advancement.

Custodia Bank’s Caitlin Long Joins the Criticism

Caitlin Long, the CEO of Custodia Bank that she founded, also voiced her thoughts on the issue of repeated bank discontinuations. Her bank, a strong supporter of cryptocurrency, has encountered regulatory obstacles, ultimately leading to job cuts due to the Federal Reserve’s slow process in providing the institution with a master account. Long is currently involved in a legal battle against the Fed, aiming to resolve these difficulties; the oral arguments for this lawsuit are set for January 21, 2025.

“Yes—debanked repeatedly, in my company’s case (Custodia Bank). Keep an eye on our pending lawsuit against the Fed. Oral argument is scheduled for Jan 21 (the day after Inauguration Day),” Long commented.

The accusations emerge during a wider debate about potential excessive regulation in the cryptocurrency sector. Both Warren and Gensler have been outspoken opponents of this industry, with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), under Gensler’s leadership, taking numerous steps to enforce rules against crypto companies. Some critics claim these actions hinder innovation and unfairly target nascent technologies.

Struggles experienced by Custodia Bank, similar to those of Consensys, showcase the hurdles that cryptocurrency-oriented financial entities are encountering. Potential repercussions from these accusations may lead to significant changes in the dynamic between the tech industry and US policymakers.

Brian Armstrong’s statement implies that the Democratic party suffered electorally due to antagonizing the technology and cryptocurrency sectors. Furthermore, Long’s legal action might establish a judicial precedent regarding excessive government interference.

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2024-11-29 12:40