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The House Financial Services Committee held a hearing on Wednesday to discuss the changing roles of banks and fintech companies, with a key focus being the "skinny master account" option under consideration by the Federal Reserve, which would allow certain crypto banks and fintech companies limited direct access to the Fed's payment system.A Federal Reserve master account allows financial institutions to directly use the Fed’s payment network and gain the most direct access to the U.S. dollar monetary system. Institutions without such an account typically rely on partner banks that hold master accounts to provide services. The so-called "skinny account" is a version with limited functionality, intended to provide restricted access for new types of financial institutions.Republican Representative Dan Meuser stated during the hearing that access to the Fed’s payment system is no small matter, and the core issue is which institutions should be permitted to directly use these critical payment rails. Traditional institutions like community banks worry that crypto and fintech companies are not subject to the same stringent regulations, and granting them direct access could pose safety and soundness risks.The crypto industry generally supports the proposal, arguing that direct access to the Fed’s payment system is long overdue, as it would help reduce reliance on intermediary banks and foster innovation. In May, former President Trump signed an executive order requiring the Federal Reserve to evaluate policies for opening central bank payment rails to fintech companies, including crypto firms.Previously, in March, the Kansas City Fed approved Kraken’s parent company, Payward, for a "limited purpose account," sparking discussions about the extent to which crypto and fintech companies should have direct access to Fed services. A representative from Anchorage Digital stated during the hearing that if the U.S. is to remain the global financial center, it must allow for innovative federal and state-level regulatory frameworks.
According to Caixin Global, Tiger Brokers issued a statement clarifying that recent claims accusing the company of “refusing to cooperate with regulators” or “confronting regulators head-on” are entirely false. The company emphasized that regulatory compliance is the lifeline of its operations and stated that it will strictly adhere to guidance from the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) and other relevant regulatory authorities to implement rectifications in response to the latest regulatory requirements. Since 2023, Tiger Brokers has fully ceased opening accounts and conducting marketing activities for mainland Chinese users. As of the end of Q1 2026, mainland Chinese clients accounted for approximately 10% of the company’s total client assets. Meanwhile, its overseas client base and asset scale have grown steadily. The company will continue advancing its compliance efforts in a steady and orderly manner to safeguard client asset security.