CFPB Finalizes Rules For Digital Payment Platforms Excluding Crypto

According to Cointelegraph, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), a financial regulatory body in the United States, has finalized its rules concerning the 'Larger Participant' criteria for digital payment platforms. Notably, the transfer of crypto assets has been excluded from this rule. The finalized regulation applies to digital wallets like Apple Pay and centralized peer-to-peer payment services, but only for transactions conducted in US dollars. The CFPB clarified that the definition of 'annual covered consumer payment transaction volume' is limited to transactions in US dollars, thereby excluding digital asset transfers, including cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and stablecoins, from the larger-participant test. Industry stakeholders, including research-based investment firm Paradigm and pro-crypto nonprofit organizations, successfully opposed the CFPB's initial proposal, which included digital asset transactions. The CFPB's focus on digital payment services began in September 2023, targeting platforms like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and peer-to-peer services such as Venmo. The agency expressed concerns about potential monopolistic practices by Big Tech firms that could marginalize smaller companies. Rohit Chopra, the director of the CFPB, also highlighted concerns regarding the monetization of consumer data by these companies. Initially, the CFPB proposed extending its oversight to include crypto wallet providers, but this move faced resistance from the crypto industry and lawmakers. In January 2024, US lawmakers sent a letter to the CFPB, opposing the rule due to its potential impact on cryptocurrencies. They emphasized that peer-to-peer transactions through self-hosted wallets are crucial for the digital asset ecosystem as they eliminate third-party risk. Despite the opposition, the CFPB appeared to reinforce its stance in April 2024 by targeting blockchain video games, citing concerns over in-game asset tokens being traded outside the gaming ecosystem on electronic exchanges.