Why Treasury and Federal Reserve Officials Convened Emergency Meeting Over Anthropic’s Mythos AI

Key Takeaways

• Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent convened an emergency session with major banking executives regarding Anthropic’s Mythos AI system
• The AI model possesses capabilities to detect and weaponize security flaws in all prominent operating systems and web browsers
• Executives from Wells Fargo, Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, and Citigroup participated; JPMorgan’s Jamie Dimon was absent
• Mythos availability is restricted to approximately 40 technology firms, including Google and Microsoft, through “Project Glasswing”
• Cryptocurrency and decentralized finance professionals warn about potential threats to blockchain and smart contract security

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell and U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent organized an emergency briefing with leading Wall Street banking executives earlier this week to address cybersecurity threats associated with Anthropic’s recently unveiled AI system, Mythos.

Anthropic Model Scare Sparks Urgent Bessent, Powell Warning to Bank CEOs
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell held an urgent meeting with Wall Street leaders to address cybersecurity risks linked to Anthropic’s Mythos AI model. Bank CEOs… pic.twitter.com/1ojYAJOztU

— CN Wire (@Sino_Market) April 10, 2026

The Tuesday briefing occurred in Washington, D.C., with the Treasury Department serving as host. The primary objective was ensuring financial institutions comprehend the potential dangers presented by Mythos and implement adequate protective measures for their digital infrastructure.

Banking leaders from Wells Fargo, Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, and Citigroup attended the session. JPMorgan’s chief executive Jamie Dimon was notably absent, as reported by sources with knowledge of the proceedings.

The scheduling proved convenient as several banking executives were already in the nation’s capital for unrelated engagements, enabling rapid organization of this critical gathering.

Each of the five participating financial institutions holds systemically important designation. This classification indicates that operational disruptions at these organizations could trigger cascading effects throughout worldwide financial markets.

Developed by Anthropic, Mythos represents an advanced AI system engineered to discover and take advantage of security vulnerabilities in software environments. Rather than serving consumer applications, Mythos concentrates on cybersecurity analysis and software development functions.

Distinguishing Capabilities of Mythos

According to Anthropic, Mythos demonstrates proficiency in discovering and exploiting security weaknesses across all mainstream operating systems and leading web browsers.

The system specializes in detecting zero-day vulnerabilities — previously unknown security gaps that lack available patches or public documentation. Beyond mere identification, it can construct functional exploits leveraging these discoveries.

While Anthropic introduced Mythos recently, the company deliberately avoided widespread distribution. The organization cited the model’s capacity to reveal undiscovered cybersecurity weaknesses as justification for restricted deployment.

Current access remains confined to roughly 40 tech corporations, with Google and Microsoft among participants in an initiative designated “Project Glasswing.”

Anthropic indicated it conducted advance briefings with senior federal government representatives and critical industry participants regarding Mythos’s technical capabilities prior to any public announcement.

Implications for Cryptocurrency and Decentralized Finance

Traditional banking institutions aren’t the only entities facing potential exposure. Cryptocurrency and decentralized finance specialists have highlighted concerns that Mythos might be weaponized against vulnerabilities within DeFi platforms.

The primary concern centers on the model’s ability to identify and exploit zero-day weaknesses rapidly and economically, potentially compromising decentralized protocols dependent on smart contract integrity.

Anthropic currently faces legal proceedings involving the Pentagon. The Department of Defense has categorized the organization as presenting supply-chain risks, a determination Anthropic is actively challenging through judicial channels.

Representatives from Goldman Sachs, Wells Fargo, and the Federal Reserve declined to provide statements. The Treasury Department, participating financial institutions, and Anthropic have not yet responded to inquiries seeking comment.