John Berlau

Alexandria

Director, Finance Policy at The Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI)

Director of Finance Policy, @ceidotorg Husband of Bukky. Author of @StMartinsPress book George Washington, Entrepreneur. Speaker at events. My own views.

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Articles

GENIUS Act needs free market fixes before it graduates to law

1 week ago | cei.org | John Berlau

Yesterday, the US Senate voted to approve a regulatory regime for stablecoins. This vote represents one of the most significant milestones for cryptocurrency since the pseudonymous author Satoshi Nakamoto penned his white paper announcing the creation of a new digital private currency called “Bitcoin” 16 years ago. By a vote of 68-30, the US Senate passed the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for US Stablecoins Act (GENIUS Act).
Courts should allow CFPB to vacate case against small mortgage firm

2 weeks ago | cei.org | John Berlau

U.S. District Judge Franklin Valderrama on June 12 denied a request by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to vacate a Biden-era settlement against the Chicago-based mortgage finance firm Townstone Financial. The CFPB had accused Townstone of redlining and discrimination based on the comments of Townstone associates about neighborhood crime on the firm’s radio show and podcast, raising First Amendment and weaponization concerns.
Coalition urges Commodity Futures Trading Commission cut red tape on prediction markets

3 weeks ago | cei.org | John Berlau

The Competitive Enterprise Institute today sent a coalition letter to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) urging it to adopt a policy of permissionless innovation toward the promising growth of prediction markets.
Under Biden or Trump, taxing carried interest is stupid and destructive policy

1 month ago | cei.org | John Berlau

No matter who’s in charge of the presidency or Congress, flawed proposals to close the so-called carried interest loophole just keep coming back. News outlets reported last week that in addition to asking House Speaker Mike Johnson to raise top tax rates, President Trump requested tax hikes for carried interest earned in business partnerships.
Congress should overturn harmful anti-bank merger regulation

1 month ago | cei.org | John Berlau

Yesterday, the Senate approved a resolution pursuant to the Congressional Review Act to overturn a regulation from the Biden administration that would sharply restrict bank mergers. The resolution, sponsored by Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA), is now pending in the House. Below is a statement I sent to Congress on behalf of CEI in support of overturning this harmful rule. Competitive Enterprise Institute Statement on S.J. Res.
Let prediction markets predict – elections, sports, and other topics - Competitive Enterprise Institute

1 month ago | cei.org | John Berlau

In the 2024 presidential election, one of the big winners was prediction markets. During the weeks leading up to election day, venues such as Kalshi, PredictIt, and Polymarket – in which participants purchased contracts on outcomes of elections and other events – consistently pinpointed Donald Trump as the winner of the presidential election. Many pollsters, by contrast, showed a tossup. Some prominent polls – such as the Des Moines Register poll by J.
Regulators right to approve Capital One/Discover merger

2 months ago | cei.org | John Berlau |Ryan Smith

On Friday, federal financial regulators made the right decision in approving the merger of Capital One and Discover. In their joint approvals of the merger, the Federal Reserve and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) seemed to recognize points made by CEI in its favor. Namely that, far from being anticompetitive, the merger could introduce new, game-changing competition into the markets for credit and payments.
Paul Atkins is an excellent choice to lead the SEC

2 months ago | cei.org | John Berlau

On Wednesday, the Senate confirmed Paul S. Atkins to serve as chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). As I have stated before, Atkins is an excellent choice to serve in this position with a proven record of standing up for good policy during his previous tenure as an SEC commissioner.
President Trump announces Executive Orders aimed at slashing overregulation within federal agencies: CEI analysis

2 months ago | cei.org | Clyde Wayne Crews |James Broughel |John Berlau

On Wednesday, President Trump announced several Executive Orders aimed at slashing overregulation in federal agencies through sunsetting and repealing outdated or unnecessary rules. The Orders focus on regulations that were deemed “unlawful” following recent Supreme Court decisions as well as rules that stifled energy independence and competition. CEI experts applauded the Trump administration’s deregulatory initiatives. CEI Fred L.
House poised to end Biden-era CFPB overdraft rule: CEI statement

2 months ago | cei.org | John Berlau

The House is expected today to vote on a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution overturning a Biden era Consumer Financial Protection Bureau rule to cap overdraft fees at $5 for banks and credit unions (over a certain threshold). CEI financial policy expert John Berlau urges the House to overturn this rule, explaining that such price controls would add to market volatility.