In 2015, out of 5,000+ banks in the US, there were exactly 3 banks willing to work with licensed crypto exchanges.

Establishing and maintaining bank relationships *despite* Operation Chokepoint is an important reason why Coinbase is valuable today.

Coinbase's ability to establish and maintain banking relationships during that time was crucial. It allowed them to operate more smoothly, handle customer deposits and withdrawals, and ultimately build trust with users. This strategic positioning is a big part of why Coinbase has become such a valuable player in the cryptocurrency market today.