Trump Orders Federal Reserve to Review Crypto Firms’ Access to Payment Rails and Master Accounts

President Donald Trump has signed a new executive order directing the Federal Reserve and federal financial regulators to review whether crypto companies and fintech firms should gain broader access to the U.S. banking system’s core payment infrastructure. The move could become one of the most significant policy shifts yet for crypto integration into traditional finance. 

At the center of the order is the Federal Reserve’s controversial “master account” system, which gives institutions direct access to Fed payment rails like Fedwire—the infrastructure used for high-value dollar settlement between banks. 

What Trump’s Executive Order Actually Does

The executive order, titled “Integrating Financial Technology Innovation into Regulatory Frameworks,” instructs federal regulators to review rules that may be blocking crypto and fintech firms from integrating with traditional financial infrastructure. 

The order specifically asks the Federal Reserve to examine:

• Whether uninsured depository institutions and non-bank crypto firms can receive access to Fed payment services
• Whether regional Federal Reserve banks can independently approve master account applications
• What legal or regulatory barriers currently prevent broader access.

Federal agencies have roughly:

• 90 days to identify restrictive rules
• Six months to propose reforms supporting innovation and fintech integration.

Why Master Accounts Matter So Much

A Federal Reserve master account is one of the most powerful tools in the U.S. financial system because it allows institutions to:

• Access Fed payment rails directly
• Settle transactions without intermediary banks
• Hold balances directly with the Federal Reserve.

Historically, access has been limited almost entirely to federally insured banks. Crypto firms have spent years fighting for access because relying on intermediary banking partners has left the industry vulnerable to:

• Debanking
• Payment delays
• Banking freezes
• Regulatory pressure.

The issue became especially controversial during the Biden administration as many crypto firms argued they were systematically cut off from banking infrastructure.

Kraken Already Broke the Barrier Earlier This Year

The executive order follows a major breakthrough in March when Kraken Financial, a Wyoming-based SPDI (Special Purpose Depository Institution), became the first crypto company to receive a limited Federal Reserve payment account through the Kansas City Fed.  That decision sparked intense backlash from traditional banking groups, which argued crypto firms should face the same regulatory requirements as federally insured banks.

Now companies including:

• Ripple
• Anchorage Digital
• Other crypto-focused financial firms

are reportedly seeking similar access. 

Banks and Lawmakers Are Already Pushing Back

Traditional banking groups quickly criticized the order. The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) warned that expanding access to crypto firms could create “significant gaps in regulation” between banks and non-bank financial companies.  At the same time, Senator Elizabeth Warren reportedly raised concerns about crypto firms receiving banking-like privileges without being subject to full banking safeguards and oversight. 

Critics argue that:

• Crypto firms should face the same capital requirements as banks
• Stablecoin issuers could create systemic risks
• Expanded access may increase money laundering or liquidity concerns.

The Federal Reserve Is Already Exploring “Skinny” Master Accounts

Importantly, the executive order doesn’t appear to come completely out of nowhere. The Fed had already proposed a framework for limited-purpose or “skinny” master accounts late last year. These accounts would allow certain fintech and crypto firms access to payment rails while restricting:

• Discount window borrowing
• Interest on reserves
• Intraday liquidity support.

In many ways, Trump’s order accelerates a conversation the Fed was already cautiously beginning to explore.

The Bigger Picture

This executive order reflects a major shift in how crypto is being treated at the federal level. For years, the industry operated largely outside core financial infrastructure. Now the conversation has moved toward whether crypto firms should gain direct access to the same payment systems used by traditional banks.

If access expands, it could fundamentally change crypto’s role in the financial system by:

• Reducing dependence on intermediary banks
• Increasing settlement efficiency
• Strengthening stablecoin infrastructure
• Bringing crypto firms deeper into traditional finance.

The broader implication is becoming increasingly clear:
the battle over crypto is no longer just about tokens or exchanges—it’s about who gets access to the foundational infrastructure of the U.S. financial system itself.