Sen. Gillibrand: Crypto is banking the unbanked — 30% of Americans had no bank account a decade ago.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand highlighted that roughly 30% of Americans were unbanked ten years ago, framing crypto as a meaningful alternative — one that lets people access financial systems without ever needing a traditional bank account.

The argument positions crypto not as a speculative asset class but as a financial inclusion tool, a framing that carries weight in policy circles. As stablecoin and payments legislation moves through Congress, the inclusion angle gives lawmakers on both sides a non-partisan hook to support clearer crypto frameworks.