“‘Chokepoint 3.0’? a16z Warns of Quiet Banking Crackdown on Crypto”**
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**🚨 The Return of Coordinated Financial Pressure?**
Venture capital giant **a16z (Andreessen Horowitz)** is sounding the alarm: we may be witnessing the arrival of **“Chokepoint 3.0”** — a quiet but aggressive move by regulators and banks to cut off crypto firms from essential financial services.
In a new post, a16z claims that crypto companies are once again facing unspoken restrictions: rejected applications for banking accounts, frozen transfers, increased compliance red tape, and sudden account terminations with no explanation. The tactics mirror Operation Chokepoint, a controversial U.S. government program that targeted politically unfavorable industries under the guise of financial risk.
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**🧯 What’s Happening — And Why Now?**
According to a16z, this isn't about consumer protection — it’s about **control**. As U.S. crypto regulation remains murky, banking choke points become a stealth weapon to slow the industry without passing new laws. Fintechs, exchanges, stablecoin issuers, and DeFi projects are all reportedly seeing more hurdles when working with banks.
This comes as global jurisdictions like the UK, UAE, and Hong Kong take a more open approach to crypto finance — potentially pushing U.S.-based innovation offshore.
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**🏦 Institutions Aren’t Leaving — They’re Watching**
Despite the pressure, institutional capital isn’t exiting. It’s adapting. Custodians like Fidelity and Coinbase Institutional continue building services that minimize banking dependencies. Some funds are now exploring crypto-native solutions like tokenized treasuries, stablecoin rails, and decentralized custody to future-proof operations.
As regulatory fog thickens, the divide grows clearer: retail players struggle with access, while well-capitalized institutions build deeper infrastructure.
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**📌 Bottom Line: Chokepoints Can Slow — But Not Stop — Crypto**
If a16z is right, crypto may be entering a new era of shadow regulation.
