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Crypto.com received conditional approval from the OCC for a national trust bank charter.
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The approval would allow custody and staking services under federal oversight.
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A national charter would shift supervision from state regulators to federal control.
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The move reflects broader regulatory alignment between crypto firms and U.S. banking authorities.
A Step Toward Federal Bank Status
Crypto.com has secured conditional approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency as it pursues a national trust bank charter.
If fully approved, the charter would allow Crypto.com to operate as a federally regulated trust bank, enabling it to custody digital assets, safeguard client funds, and offer staking services under direct federal supervision.
National trust bank status places firms under the OCC rather than a mix of state regulators. It also establishes clearer supervisory standards for capital, compliance, and risk management.
Institutional Positioning
Crypto.com joins a growing list of crypto-native firms including Circle, Ripple, BitGo, Fidelity Digital Assets, and Paxos that have received similar conditional approvals.
The OCC has recently clarified that banks may buy, sell, and custody crypto assets on behalf of clients. Under a more crypto-supportive federal environment, regulators have rescinded earlier restrictions that limited banks’ engagement with digital assets.
For Crypto.com, a federal charter would strengthen its institutional pitch as a qualified custodian operating under the highest U.S. regulatory standards.
