OCC says crypto firms can pursue U.S. bank charters
Aug 12, 2026
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) said on Aug. 11 that digital asset companies conducting legally permissible activities should have a route into the U.S. national banking system, as Comptroller Jonathan V. Gould renewed the agency’s push to revive new bank formation.
OCC crypto bank charter pipeline has 13 pending applications
The OCC’s current digital asset licensing list contains 13 pending applications from entities planning to offer crypto or other digital asset products. They include Payward National Trust Company, World Liberty Trust Company, Revolut Bank US, PAYO Digital Bank, EDX Trust, Agora National Trust Bank, and Dakota National Trust Bank. Dakota’s July 28 filing is the newest currently listed.
FDIC reform creates a faster route for insured new banks
The FDIC’s new process applies to federal deposit insurance applications received after Aug. 15. Phase one begins when an application arrives and aims for contingent authorization within 120 days. Phase two can run for up to 12 months while organizers complete requirements for final approval and a deposit insurance order.
Crypto bank charters remain a Washington policy fight
The dispute matters because a national trust charter can place crypto custody, settlement and other permitted services under one federal supervisor rather than a patchwork of state regimes. The precise activities available still depend on the charter, regulatory conditions and other applicable laws. The OCC’s April rule says the agency’s underlying charter authority was not expanded.
What happens next for OCC crypto bank charters
Gould’s latest statement indicates that the OCC intends to keep accepting applications from digital asset businesses rather than impose a blanket exclusion. Applicants must still satisfy regulatory, financial, management and supervisory requirements before receiving final authorization. Conditional approval alone does not permit a proposed bank to begin business.
Sources >> OCC says crypto firms can pursue U.S. bank charters
