Coinbase Wins Full National Trust Bank Status From US Banking Regulator

Coinbase says the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has upgraded its trust bank from conditional to full approval, so the largest US crypto exchange now runs as a fully chartered national trust. The provisional green light came in April and let the company offer federally supervised custody and payment services. It does not allow Coinbase to take deposits or make loans like a full service bank. Over the following months, the firm built compliance systems, hired staff and went through regulatory review before getting the final sign off.

Crypto Firms Rush Toward Federal Trust Charters

Coinbase is far from alone. The trend picked up speed after the GENIUS Act opened a path for federal trusts to issue compliant stablecoins. Ripple received a full trust charter last month, and World Liberty Financial, the Trump family venture, earned conditional status in August. Coinbase Vice Chairman Ryan VanGrack said the company has long asked for clear rules and strong oversight, and called the approval another step in bringing digital assets into the core of American finance.

Banking Groups Push Back on OCC Charters

This shift marks a sharp turn from earlier years, when banking, securities and derivatives regulators resisted crypto firms and often treated them with distrust. Not everyone is on board now. The Independent Community Bankers of America has sued the OCC, arguing the agency overstepped its authority by granting trust charters to crypto companies.