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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Statement by Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen on Recent
Crypto Market Developments
November 16, 2022

Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen released the following statement on the recent crypto
market developments:
"The recent failure of a major cryptocurrency exchange and the unfortunate impact that has
resulted for holders and investors of crypto assets demonstrate the need for more effective
oversight of cryptocurrency markets.
Over the past year, through the President’s Working Group on Financial Markets and in response
to the President’s Executive Order on Digital Assets, the Treasury Department worked with its
regulatory partners to identify risks in crypto markets. Some of the risks we identified in these
reports, including comingling of customer assets, lack of transparency, and conflicts of interest,
were at the center of the crypto market stresses observed over the past week.
We have very strong investor and consumer protection laws for most of our financial products
and markets that are designed to address these risks. Where existing regulations apply, they
must be enforced rigorously so that the same protections and principles apply to crypto assets
and services. The federal government, including Congress, also needs to move quickly to fill the
regulatory gaps the Biden Administration has identified. In terms of financial stability, spillovers
from the events in crypto markets have been limited, but a recent report by the Financial
Stability Oversight Council, which Treasury chairs, warned that further interconnections of the
traditional financial system and crypto markets could raise broader financial stability concerns.
Going forward, it’s vital we do what is necessary to address these concerning risks and act to
protect consumers and promote financial stability."
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