Trump Urges Banks to Back GENIUS Act, Calls Weakening 'Unacceptable'
On March 3, former President Donald Trump publicly admonished major banking groups over a stalled crypto bill, urging them to “strike a favorable deal” with the crypto industry and calling any attempt to weaken the GENIUS Act “unacceptable.” The comments thrust a prominent political voice into ongoing negotiations and put fresh scrutiny on the role of bank lobbyists in shaping the legislation.
Trump’s intervention matters because banks are pivotal to the bill’s fate: their cooperation or resistance could determine whether the GENIUS Act delivers meaningful regulatory clarity for digital assets or is watered down. Crypto firms and markets seeking certainty will watch whether lenders respond, while lawmakers balance industry pressure against political calculations. The coming weeks of talks will show if the bill can be preserved or faces further erosion.