Daily Brief · August 20, 2026
Digital assets policy raises deposit and charter questions
Digital-asset rulemaking remains contested, OCC charter demand is crypto-heavy, and Treasury is expanding long-end buybacks.
Digital assets policy
ABA and other banking associations say CLARITY Act revisions still leave deposit-flight risks unresolved
American Banker reported the bill appears stalled and may slip to a lame-duck session or the next Congress, even after President Trump urged Congress to pass the CLARITY Act after meeting crypto and fintech CEOs. The groups said the revised bill would not close a loophole allowing stablecoin issuers to offer interest-like rewards, which they said could pull bank deposits that fund small-business, mortgage and farm loans; Treasury has estimated $6.6 trillion in bank deposits could be at risk if stablecoins pay interest or rewards.
OCC reports a digital-asset-heavy charter pipeline
Comptroller Jonathan Gould said 23 of 40 bank charter applications received over roughly 18 months involve digital asset activity, and the OCC expects a final rule implementing the 2025 Genius Act by November. Gould said OCC charter approvals are about preserving banking-system integrity rather than “incumbent protection.”
Rates and funding backdrop
Treasury at least doubles long-dated buybacks
The expanded liquidity-support purchases will target 10-year to 30-year securities starting Sept. 9, American Banker reported. The announcement pushed the longest-bond yield down nearly 10 basis points to 5.18%, and the article noted elevated yields have kept mortgage and other borrowing costs high.