Chiara Bianchi
PwC, one of the world’s Big Four accounting firms, is formally deepening its involvement in the cryptocurrency sector after years of maintaining a cautious distance.
Speaking to the Financial Times, PwC U.S. Senior Partner and CEO Paul Griggs said the firm has decided to actively expand its crypto footprint, pointing to the passage of the GENIUS stablecoin legislation and a broader regulatory pivot in the United States as key catalysts.
Griggs highlighted that clearer rules around stablecoins are reshaping institutional confidence.
“The GENIUS Act and the regulatory framework forming around stablecoins create real conviction to engage with this asset class,” Griggs said, adding that asset tokenization is expected to accelerate across industries.
According to Griggs, PwC sees crypto as an ecosystem it can no longer afford to observe from the sidelines.
From Regulatory Headwinds to a Pro-Crypto Climate
In recent years, heightened enforcement actions and regulatory uncertainty kept many traditional institutions cautious about crypto exposure.
Before Donald Trump’s reelection and the subsequent shift toward crypto-friendly leadership at U.S. regulatory agencies, PwC and its peers limited their engagement with digital asset businesses, the FT reported.
That environment has now changed, opening the door for deeper collaboration between traditional finance and crypto-native firms.
PwC Expands Audit and Consulting Services for Crypto Clients
PwC is now positioning itself to be “hyper-engaged” with crypto companies across both its audit and advisory divisions.
The firm is actively advising clients on how tools such as stablecoins can improve payment efficiency, cross-border settlements, and treasury operations.
As part of this push, PwC has strengthened its internal capabilities by rehiring Cheryl Lesnik, a digital asset specialist, as a partner. Griggs said the firm has significantly expanded its crypto-focused talent pool, both internally and externally.
PwC already provides audit services to Bitcoin mining firm MARA Holdings, reflecting its growing role in the sector.
Big Four Adoption Signals Mainstream Acceptance
PwC’s pivot underscores a broader shift across professional services firms toward embracing digital assets.
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KPMG has stated that crypto adoption reached a “tipping point” in 2025, offering compliance and risk advisory services for digital assets.
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Deloitte released its first digital assets accounting roadmap in May, providing guidance on crypto-related financial reporting.
Together, these moves suggest that cryptocurrency and tokenized assets are becoming firmly embedded in mainstream finance, with major accounting firms positioning themselves at the center of the transition.
