Former Silvergate CEO Claims Biden Administration Pressured Bank into Liquidation

Former Silvergate Bank CEO Alan Lane stated in a Substack post that the political and regulatory pressures from the Biden administration led to the bank's voluntary liquidation in 2023. He mentioned that Silvergate could continue operating after meeting withdrawals equivalent to 70% of demand deposits in the fourth quarter of 2022, and the decision to liquidate was made "in the face of political pressure." The Federal Reserve's Office of Inspector General's review in September 2023 concluded that the liquidation stemmed from reliance on crypto depositors, funding risks, and governance and compliance deficiencies. The SEC had previously charged Silvergate, Lane, and former Chief Risk Officer Kathleen Fraher with misleading investors regarding their anti-money laundering program, with Lane settling for a $1 million fine and a five-year executive ban, while the Federal Reserve imposed a $43 million fine on Silvergate. Lane also cited a statement on crypto risks released by multiple agencies at the beginning of 2023 as evidence of industry pressure, which was later withdrawn in April 2025.