By Staff Writer
Crypto.com has received conditional approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) for a national trust bank charter, a move that would allow the crypto firm to operate as a federally regulated custodian in the United States.
The company said the charter would enable it to hold and manage client assets and support functions such as trade settlement within a regulated banking structure. However, it would not allow Crypto.com to take cash deposits or issue loans, as a national trust bank model is focused on custody and related fiduciary services rather than full-service retail banking.
Crypto.com added that once the approval is finalized, it would operate as a federally regulated national trust bank under OCC oversight.
The announcement comes as the US policy environment has shifted more favorably toward crypto under President Donald Trump, with regulators easing previous restrictions and enforcement pressure on the sector.
Analysts have also pointed to national trust charters as a key step for crypto-native firms aiming to win more institutional business and connect more directly with traditional financial markets.
Crypto.com filed the application with the OCC back in October, and while conditional approval is not final, it does mark an important step forward. Last week, Striple’s stablecoin firm Bridge also won initial approval to form a national trust bank as well.
