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Sony Bank — yes, the same folks behind your Playstation — is making a power move into American finance. The digital banking arm of Japan’s Sony Group has officially filed with the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) for a national banking charter, according to Law360.
Sony Group Expands Fintech Push With U.S. Bank Charter Bid
If approved, Sony’s new venture, dubbed Connectia Trust NA, will plant its flag in New York and dive headfirst into stablecoin issuance and digital asset custody. Think of it as Sony’s way of saying that the firm is not just about gaming anymore — the electronics and fintech giant is banking on blockchain.
Law360 reports that Connectia Trust plans to roll out fully backed U.S. dollar-pegged stablecoins and non-fiduciary custody services — meaning it’ll keep your crypto safe but won’t play portfolio manager. The entity also aims to provide fiduciary asset management to Sony’s in-house affiliates. The OCC made the application public on Oct. 10, and it’s currently under review.
Sony Bank, founded in 2001, has been quietly upgrading from fintech to full-on blockchain pioneer. In 2024, it joined Japan’s regulatory sandbox for decentralized finance (DeFi) experiments involving stablecoins. A year earlier, Sony Group teamed up with Startale to launch Soneium, an Ethereum layer two (L2) network, signaling that crypto is becoming part of the Sony DNA.
Timing-wise, Sony’s bid couldn’t be more strategic. The 2025 GENIUS Act finally brought clarity to stablecoin regulation, mandating 100% reserves in cash or Treasuries and granting redemption rights to holders. The OCC also green-lit national banks to issue and custody stablecoins — provided they play by the rulebook.
If the OCC gives the nod, Sony will join a club that includes Coinbase, Stripe’s Bridge, Paxos, and Circle — with Anchorage Digital still the lone approved crypto-native bank. The OCC just handed Erebor Bank its golden ticket — conditional approval for a U.S. national bank charter.
Analysts say Sony’s arrival could supercharge institutional confidence and potentially swell the stablecoin market from over $300 billion to $400 billion by early 2026. For now, the OCC remains silent, and Sony hasn’t hit “publish” on any official comments. But one thing’s clear: the Playstation maker just pressed “start” on America’s next stablecoin power-up.
FAQ 💡
- What is Sony Bank applying for?A national banking charter from the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.
- What will the new entity be called?Connectia Trust NA, a Sony Bank subsidiary based in New York.
- What services will it provide?Stablecoin issuance, digital asset custody, and fiduciary asset management.
- Has the OCC approved the application yet?No. As of mid-October 2025, the application is still under review.