Last updated on January 11th, 2026 at 09:44 pm
Quick Breakdown
- PwC shifts from caution to active expansion in digital assets, driven by Genius Act and pro-crypto SEC policies.
- Firm now audits crypto miners like MARA Holdings and advises on stablecoin payments and tokenization.
- Hiring specialists like Cheryl Lesnik signals Big Four’s broader institutional embrace of blockchain.
Senior partner Paul Griggs of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), one of the ‘big four’ accounting firms, announced a decisive “lean in” to cryptocurrency work following years of restraint. This pivot stems directly from the Trump administration’s pro-crypto stance, including the July 2025 Genius Act that regulates stablecoins and enables banks to issue digital currencies pegged to the US dollar.
New SEC rules under Chair Paul Atkins have further eroded prior uncertainties, convincing corporates that digital assets represent a viable, low-risk opportunity for payments, tokenization, and operations. Griggs emphasized in a Financial Times interview that these changes create “greater confidence” for engagement across audit, consulting, and tax services.
PwC ‘leans in’ to crypto as Donald Trump and lawmakers embrace sector https://t.co/Jha9b0CHZY
— Financial Times (@FT) January 4, 2026
Big Four joins tokenization boom, eyes client wins
The firm has already secured mandates, such as auditing bitcoin miner MARA Holdings since March 2025, and is pitching stablecoins to streamline corporate payments. PwC rehired digital asset expert Cheryl Lesnik, a former partner, to bolster its capabilities amid rising demand. This aligns with peers like Deloitte, KPMG, and EY, all expanding crypto roadmaps—KPMG even dubbed 2025 a “tipping point” for adoption. Tokenization of real-world assets continues to accelerate, positioning PwC to capture audit and advisory fees in this ecosystem. Early experiments in Bitcoin payments via Hong Kong and Luxembourg offices laid the groundwork for global scale. Opportunities now span crypto-native firms and traditional enterprises, with steady inflows reported across business lines.
The broader institutional embrace of digital assets is further cemented by YouTube’s new partnership with PayPal, enabling PYUSD stablecoin payouts for US creators. This major move leverages clear regulation to streamline crypto access for millions, solidifying stablecoins as a key component of the evolving global payment and creator economy.
Meanwhile, Exodus and MoonPay are partnering to launch a fully reserved, USD-backed stablecoin for Exodus Pay in early 2026. This self-custodial digital dollar, using M0 infrastructure, aims to simplify onchain payments for mainstream users globally.
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