{"id":70723,"date":"2024-02-05T18:14:29","date_gmt":"2024-02-05T22:14:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/coinscreed.com\/staging\/?p=70723"},"modified":"2024-02-05T18:14:33","modified_gmt":"2024-02-05T22:14:33","slug":"vast-bank-exits-crypto-shuts-down-banking-app","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/coinscreed.com\/staging\/vast-bank-exits-crypto-shuts-down-banking-app\/","title":{"rendered":"Vast Bank Exits Crypto, Shuts Down Banking App"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>To exit the cryptocurrency industry, Vast Bank, which claimed to be the first bank in the United States to permit customers to buy, sell, and retain cryptocurrencies &#8220;alongside a traditional checking account,&#8221; has discontinued its mobile <a href=\"https:\/\/coinscreed.com\/staging\/banking-app-dave-to-buy-back-100m-stake-from-ftx.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">crypto banking app<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"590\" src=\"https:\/\/coinscreed.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/image-8-1024x590.png\" alt=\"Vast Bank Exits Crypto, Shuts Down Banking App \" class=\"wp-image-70728\" srcset=\"https:\/\/coinscreed.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/image-8-1024x590.png 1024w, https:\/\/coinscreed.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/image-8-300x173.png 300w, https:\/\/coinscreed.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/image-8-768x443.png 768w, https:\/\/coinscreed.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/image-8-750x432.png 750w, https:\/\/coinscreed.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/image-8-1140x657.png 1140w, https:\/\/coinscreed.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/image-8.png 1183w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Vast Bank Exits Crypto, Shuts Down Banking App <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Vast Bank stated in its website's Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section that American Banker was the first to identify that it would refund any remaining cryptocurrency deposits using liquidation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>\u201cTo strategically align our operations, effective Wednesday January 31st, 2024, we will be disabling and removing the Vast Crypto Mobile Banking application from Google and Apple, which means your Vast Crypto Mobile Banking account(s), including any Digital Assets held in custody, will be liquidated and closed.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Before entering the cryptocurrency sector in 2019, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vast.bank\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Vast Bank <span class=\"wpil-link-icon\" title=\"Link goes to external site.\" style=\"margin: 0 0 0 5px;\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" style=\"height:16px; width:16px; fill:#000000; stroke:#000000; display:inline-block;\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:svg=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><g id=\"wpil-svg-outbound-7-icon-path\" fill=\"none\" clip-path=\"url(#clip0_31_188)\">\r\n                            <path d=\"M9.16724 14.8891L20.1672 3.88908\" stroke-linecap=\"round\"\/>\r\n                            <path d=\"M13.4497 3.53554L20.5208 3.53554L20.5208 10.6066\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"\/>\r\n                            <path d=\"M17.5 13.5L17.5 16.26C17.5 17.4179 17.5 17.9968 17.2675 18.4359C17.0799 18.7902 16.7902 19.0799 16.4359 19.2675C15.9968 19.5 15.4179 19.5 14.26 19.5L7.74 19.5C6.58213 19.5 6.0032 19.5 5.56414 19.2675C5.20983 19.0799 4.92007 18.7902 4.73247 18.4359C4.5 17.9968 4.5 17.4179 4.5 16.26L4.5 9.74C4.5 8.58213 4.5 8.0032 4.73247 7.56414C4.92007 7.20983 5.20982 6.92007 5.56414 6.73247C6.0032 6.5 6.58213 6.5 7.74 6.5L11 6.5\" stroke-linecap=\"round\"\/>\r\n                        <\/g>\r\n                        <defs>\r\n                            <clipPath id=\"clip0_31_188\">\r\n                                <rect fill=\"white\" height=\"24\" width=\"24\"\/>\r\n                            <\/clipPath>\r\n                        <\/defs><\/svg><\/span><\/a>collaborated with Coinbase and SAP in 2021 to develop a mobile banking application compatible with cryptocurrencies. However, American Banker reports that the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency issued a consent order to the bank in late 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to the OCC order, Vast Bank is purportedly involved in &#8220;unsafe or unsound practices&#8221; about risk management and control. The order centers on the institution's participation in cryptocurrency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Vast Bank issued a press release in November 2023, shortly after the OCC order, announcing its intention to realign its operations towards &#8220;traditional banking&#8221; and discontinue its involvement in cryptocurrency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>\u201cBeginning in 2019, Vast added a range of <a href=\"https:\/\/coinscreed.com\/staging\/raiffeisen-bank-to-launch-crypto-trading-services-in-january.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">digital banking services <\/a>such as cryptocurrency to its product mix. \u2026 However, the ever-changing and unclear regulatory environment in digital banking coupled with macroeconomic headwinds make future growth more difficult to predict.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Although Vast Bank did not explicitly mention regulatory uncertainty, numerous analysts attribute the overall hesitancy of U.S. banks to invest in the cryptocurrency sector to that very factor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Pro-cryptocurrency government officials have expressed vehement opposition to the Securities and Exchange Commission's putative catch-as-catch-can approach to <a href=\"https:\/\/coinscreed.com\/staging\/cryptocurrency-regulations-a-global-perspective.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">cryptocurrency regulation<\/a>, according to a recent report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Chair <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/GaryGensler?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">@GaryGensler<span class=\"wpil-link-icon\" title=\"Link goes to external site.\" style=\"margin: 0 0 0 5px;\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" style=\"height:16px; width:16px; fill:#000000; stroke:#000000; display:inline-block;\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:svg=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><use href=\"#wpil-svg-outbound-7-icon-path\"><\/use><\/svg><\/span><\/a>\u2019s SAB 121 has virtually blocked banks from serving as custodians of digital assets. Today, <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RepWileyNickel?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">@RepWileyNickel<span class=\"wpil-link-icon\" title=\"Link goes to external site.\" style=\"margin: 0 0 0 5px;\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" style=\"height:16px; width:16px; fill:#000000; stroke:#000000; display:inline-block;\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:svg=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><use href=\"#wpil-svg-outbound-7-icon-path\"><\/use><\/svg><\/span><\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SenLummis?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">@SenLummis<span class=\"wpil-link-icon\" title=\"Link goes to external site.\" style=\"margin: 0 0 0 5px;\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" style=\"height:16px; width:16px; fill:#000000; stroke:#000000; display:inline-block;\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:svg=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><use href=\"#wpil-svg-outbound-7-icon-path\"><\/use><\/svg><\/span><\/a>, and I introduced resolutions to repeal <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SECGov?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">@SECGov<span class=\"wpil-link-icon\" title=\"Link goes to external site.\" style=\"margin: 0 0 0 5px;\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" style=\"height:16px; width:16px; fill:#000000; stroke:#000000; display:inline-block;\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:svg=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><use href=\"#wpil-svg-outbound-7-icon-path\"><\/use><\/svg><\/span><\/a>&#39;s terrible bulletin.<br><br>SAB 121\u2019s days are numbered \u2013 it\u2019s time for it to go! \ud83d\udcdd\ud83d\uddd1\ufe0f <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/jTQDdbMm3I\" target=\"_blank\">pic.twitter.com\/jTQDdbMm3I<span class=\"wpil-link-icon\" title=\"Link goes to external site.\" style=\"margin: 0 0 0 5px;\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" style=\"height:16px; width:16px; fill:#000000; stroke:#000000; display:inline-block;\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:svg=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><use href=\"#wpil-svg-outbound-7-icon-path\"><\/use><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/p>&mdash; Rep. Mike Flood (@USRepMikeFlood) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/USRepMikeFlood\/status\/1753149720518635962?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">February 1, 2024<span class=\"wpil-link-icon\" title=\"Link goes to external site.\" style=\"margin: 0 0 0 5px;\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" style=\"height:16px; width:16px; fill:#000000; stroke:#000000; display:inline-block;\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:svg=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><use href=\"#wpil-svg-outbound-7-icon-path\"><\/use><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>To exit the cryptocurrency industry, Vast Bank, which claimed to be the first bank in the United States to permit customers to buy, sell, and retain cryptocurrencies &#8220;alongside a traditional checking account,&#8221; has discontinued its mobile crypto banking app. Vast Bank stated in its website&#8217;s Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section that American Banker was the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":70728,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[18294,1305,4215],"class_list":["post-70723","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-crypto-banking-app","tag-united-states","tag-vast-bank"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/coinscreed.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/image-8.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/coinscreed.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70723","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/coinscreed.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/coinscreed.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coinscreed.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coinscreed.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=70723"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/coinscreed.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70723\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coinscreed.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/70728"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/coinscreed.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=70723"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coinscreed.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=70723"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coinscreed.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=70723"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}