Ripple Receives Final US Approval for National Trust Bank

As the integration process of cryptocurrency companies with traditional finance and banking infrastructure gains momentum, Ripple received final approval from the US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to establish a national trust bank at the federal level. Following the approval news, the company's native asset XRP traded at the $1.30 level, while across the broader market, Bitcoin changed hands at $80,204 and Ethereum at $2,324.

What powers will Ripple National Trust Bank exercise?

With the completion of legal procedures before the OCC, Ripple National Trust Bank (RNTB) completed its official establishment process. Conditional approval for the institution was granted in December 2025. Under the completed process, the federally regulated trust bank gained the authority to manage the reserves backing the company's stablecoin named Ripple USD (RLUSD), act as a collateral trustee on behalf of RLUSD holders, and offer digital asset custody services to institutional clients.

The existing structure will be preserved in the stablecoin's issuance operations. RLUSD will continue to be issued by Standard Custody & Trust Company, the company's limited-purpose trust subsidiary regulated by the New York State Department of Financial Services (NYDFS).

What is the status of other banking license applications in the crypto sector?

Commenting on the decision, Ripple Chief Executive Officer Brad Garlinghouse stated that they have long argued that crypto and banks working together provides efficiency, noting that the achieved result brings together innovation, accountability, and federal oversight.

Similar processes in federal licensing steps are also being carried out by other actors in the sector. While Circle received final OCC approval in July, Coinbase received preliminary approval in April, and Crypto.com and Stripe subsidiary Bridge obtained their conditional approvals in February.

Federally chartered national trust banks focus on asset custody and management activities on behalf of clients. Unlike traditional commercial banks, these institutions do not accept deposits, do not issue direct loans, and are not covered by Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) insurance.

In the market, Bitcoin, with a 24-hour trading volume of approximately $27.2 billion, is hovering around $80,170.97 with a 0.20% increase, while Ethereum, with a volume of $9.8 billion, is trading around $2,325.17 with a 0.21% gain.

This content is for information purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.