OCC Signals Major Shift With Crypto Charters Poised to Reshape Banking

Rising confidence in crypto’s role in U.S. banking gained traction as the OCC signaled openness to chartering digital-asset firms, underscoring that modern trust bank activity and financial competitiveness increasingly hinge on integrating emerging technologies.

OCC Signals Expanding Pathways for Crypto Integration

Growing confidence in crypto’s place in national banking in the U.S. was highlighted as Comptroller of the Currency Jonathan V. Gould spoke on Dec. 8 at the Blockchain Association Policy Summit about digital asset innovation and its role in the federal banking system. His remarks focused on charter access, crypto custody, and the modernization of trust bank activity within the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC).

Gould stated:

Entities that engage in activities involving digital assets and other novel technologies should have a pathway to become federally supervised banks, if they so desire and if they meet the requirements to receive an OCC charter.

He highlighted accelerating industry momentum, revealing: “To date in 2025, we have received 14 de novo charter applications, including some from entities engaged in novel or digital asset activities. That nearly equals the number of de novo applications that the OCC received over the last four years combined.” His comments suggested growing acceptance of crypto-native firms within the federally supervised banking framework.

Further remarks underscored that digital assets are part of a natural evolution in financial infrastructure. He affirmed:

There is simply no justification for considering digital assets differently.

“Additionally, it is important that we do not confine banks, including current national trust banks, to the technologies or businesses of the past. That’s a recipe for irrelevance. Activities of national trust banks have evolved, as have activities of other banks across the country,” the OCC chief stressed. He pointed to federal and state trust banks already operating in digital-asset custody, reinforcing that crypto-aligned activity is consistent with longstanding regulatory practice and supports long-term financial competitiveness.