Ripple trust bank approval granted by OCC for national digital asset charter
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has granted Ripple trust bank approval, authorizing the creation of Ripple National Trust Bank under federal supervision. The new entity will manage reserves backing the RLUSD stablecoin and provide institutional custody for digital assets.
⚡ Key numbers:
- $2.5 billion — market value of Ripple's RLUSD stablecoin
- 5th — XRP ranking among world digital assets by market size
- January 18, 2027 — OCC federal compliance deadline under the GENIUS Act
- July 2025 — date Ripple originally filed its national trust bank application
OCC signs off on national trust bank charter
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) has granted final approval for Ripple National Trust Bank (RNTB), as announced on X by Ripple Chief Executive Brad Garlinghouse. Ripple initially applied for the banking license in July 2025 and secured conditional clearance in December before obtaining final authorization this week. The move brings one of the largest digital asset infrastructure firms directly under federal banking oversight.
RNTB will oversee the reserves supporting Ripple's RLUSD stablecoin, which launched in December 2024 and has expanded to roughly $2.5 billion in market value. In addition to acting as a reserve trustee, the bank will deliver regulated digital asset custody services to institutional clients using crypto in treasury operations and settlement.
Big news heading into @RippleSwell: the @USOCC has granted final approval for Ripple National Trust Bank.
This gives Ripple a federally supervised platform to support $RLUSD and provide digital asset custody to enterprises.
We’ve always said crypto and banks work better…
— Brad Garlinghouse (@bgarlinghouse) October 26, 2026
Dual regulatory oversight for RLUSD stablecoin
The establishment of the trust bank creates a layered regulatory architecture for the RLUSD stablecoin ecosystem. While Ripple's New York-regulated subsidiary, Standard Custody & Trust Company, continues to issue the token, the federal trust bank will safekeep and manage the backing reserves.
This structure directly reflects Ripple's long-term enterprise strategy of building systems compatible with regulated financial institutions. It also reinforces the utility of XRP, which ranks as the world's fifth-largest digital asset and powers cross-border liquidity across the company's settlement rails.
GENIUS Act transition and banking industry friction
The charter approval coincides with an push by the OCC encouraging community banks to participate in stablecoin payments under the newly finalized GENIUS Act rules. Federal requirements under the legislation are set to become mandatory on January 18, 2027.
However, crypto trust approvals face resistance from traditional lenders. The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) filed a lawsuit against the OCC, alleging that granting national trust charters to crypto firms exceeds statutory authority. An OCC spokesperson noted to CoinDesk that crypto trust institutions operate under different operational models than conventional community lenders.
“These opportunities complement the OCC’s Community Bank Comeback initiatives to right-size regulation and tailor supervision so community banks can grow, compete, and continue serving their communities”
— Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) (via CoinDesk)
What to watch next
- January 18, 2027 deadline for GENIUS Act compliance among stablecoin issuers
- Judicial proceedings in ICBA lawsuit against the OCC regarding trust charters
- Expansion of RLUSD reserve holdings under Ripple National Trust Bank custody
Frequently asked questions
What powers does the Ripple trust bank approval grant?
It permits Ripple National Trust Bank to operate under federal OCC supervision, manage RLUSD stablecoin reserves, and offer corporate custody services for digital assets.
Which entity issues the RLUSD stablecoin?
RLUSD remains issued by Standard Custody & Trust Company, an entity supervised by New York state regulators, while the national trust bank holds reserve assets.
Why is the ICBA suing the OCC over crypto charters?
The Independent Community Bankers of America claims the OCC overstepped its legal mandate by granting national trust-bank status to cryptocurrency companies.
Sources: CoinDesk, Cointelegraph.
Disclaimer: This article is for information purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Data as of Oct 27, 2026, 06:17 may vary by source. Trading leveraged CFDs carries a high risk of losing money.
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