Coinbase, the major international exchange, just put in a request with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) for a national trust charter. The company announced this move today. It’s a smart step to connect digital money with regular financial services even more.
The OCC is the main federal watchdog for national banks. This kind of license lets companies, even those not typical banks, manage their own funds. They can also hold digital assets for big institutions. This happens under clear, standard rules.
Coinbase Joins Other Big Names
Coinbase is not the first company to go this route. Others in the crypto world have already done the same. Circle, which issues the USDC stablecoin, Paxos, known for PYUSD and PAXG, and Ripple, with its new RLUSD stablecoin, all applied for similar OCC licenses in 2025.
Anchorage Digital was the very first to get this license back in 2021. Since then, more companies have shown interest. They need legal certainty as they tokenize assets and create stablecoins. Coinbase’s decision shows this trend is getting stronger. It suggests the industry wants clear rules to help more institutions adopt digital assets.
Innovation with Clear Rules
Coinbase made its intentions clear in a statement. “We have no intention of becoming a bank,” the company said. “We strongly believe that clear rules and the trust of our regulators and clients allow us to innovate safely.”
The company explained that if approved, the national trust charter would let it launch new offerings. These would go beyond simply holding assets. Think payment solutions and other related services. This could open the door for more mainstream financial groups to use cryptocurrencies. Coinbase stressed that its plan focuses on security and following rules. It also aims to speed up how digital assets fit into traditional finance.
Coinbase went public in 2021. It already plays a big part in the financial system for digital assets. The company has a deal with the U.S. Marshals Service to handle seized digital assets. It also holds Bitcoin for exchange-traded funds (ETFs) from major managers like BlackRock and Fidelity. In July 2025, Coinbase also partnered with JPMorgan Chase. This agreement helps U.S. customers buy cryptocurrencies more easily. It strengthens Coinbase’s ties to traditional banking.
🚨 Coinbase solicita licencia bancaria ante la OCC 🚨
Esta medida busca integrar activos digitales con finanzas tradicionales.
Coinbase sigue los pasos de Circle, Paxos y Ripple en su búsqueda regulatoria.
La licencia permitiría nuevos productos y servicios más allá de la… pic.twitter.com/1XBPTBuLyY
— Diario฿itcoin (@Blaze Trends)
Coinbase did not respond to requests for more comments from specialized media outlets. However, this application to the OCC solidifies its spot as a key player. It is part of an industry looking for a clear, standard way to operate.