Ripple Secures Final OCC Approval for National Trust Bank
Ripple has received final U.S. regulatory approval to establish a national trust bank, expanding federal oversight of RLUSD reserves and institutional digital asset custody.
Ripple has secured final approval from the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to establish Ripple National Trust Bank (RNTB), marking another significant step in the integration of crypto infrastructure into the regulated U.S. financial system.
Announced on October 26, 2026, the decision completes a regulatory process that began with conditional OCC approval in December 2025. The new institution will operate under federal supervision, supporting Ripple’s stablecoin operations and expanding its regulated custody capabilities.
Ripple National Trust Bank to Oversee RLUSD Reserves
Under its approved business plan, Ripple National Trust Bank will perform several functions related to Ripple USD (RLUSD), the company’s U.S. dollar-backed stablecoin.
Its authorized activities include:
- Reserve management: Managing segregated assets backing RLUSD.
- Collateral trusteeship: Acting as trustee of RLUSD reserves for the benefit of stablecoin holders.
- Digital asset custody: Providing fiduciary custody services for institutional clients.
Importantly, RNTB will not replace RLUSD’s existing issuer. The stablecoin will continue to be issued by Standard Custody & Trust Company (SCTC), Ripple’s limited-purpose trust company regulated by the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS).
The new structure adds federal OCC supervision to Ripple’s existing state-regulated stablecoin infrastructure, strengthening oversight of the assets and services supporting RLUSD.
Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse described the approval as the realization of the company’s longstanding approach to integrating digital assets with traditional finance.
For years, we’ve said crypto and banks work better together.
— Brad Garlinghouse
Garlinghouse also emphasized that the national trust charter would support Ripple’s broader institutional offerings across payments, custody, and capital markets.
RLUSD Expands Its Institutional Role
The regulatory milestone follows substantial growth in Ripple’s stablecoin business.
Launched in December 2024, RLUSD has reached a market capitalization of $2.5 billion, according to Ripple’s October 26 announcement.
The stablecoin is already integrated into Ripple’s payments infrastructure and serves as collateral within Ripple Prime, the company’s institutional prime brokerage platform.
Ripple says RLUSD is fully backed by U.S. dollar deposits, U.S. government securities, and other cash equivalents.
Its reserve framework includes several established safeguards:
- BNY serves as the stablecoin’s primary reserve custodian.
- Independent third-party attestations are published monthly.
- Attestations cover RLUSD’s circulating supply and reserve assets.
With RNTB’s approval, Ripple can bring reserve management and fiduciary custody under federal supervision. Meanwhile, RLUSD will retain its existing state-regulated issuance structure.
Beyond RLUSD, the trust bank will be authorized to provide institutional digital asset custody services upon opening. This will further expand Ripple’s regulated financial infrastructure.
Crypto Firms Move Toward Federal Banking Oversight
Ripple’s approval is part of a broader shift among cryptocurrency companies seeking direct supervision from U.S. banking regulators.
Circle received final OCC approval in July 2026 to establish Circle National Trust, strengthening the regulated custody infrastructure supporting USDC. BitGo secured full approval to convert its trust company into a federally chartered national trust bank in December 2025.
Other major industry participants, including Coinbase, Crypto.com, and World Liberty Financial, have received conditional approvals for their proposed banking entities.
These developments follow the passage of the GENIUS Act in July 2025, which established a federal regulatory framework for payment stablecoins in the United States.
Ripple said it would continue working with the OCC, NYDFS, and other regulators as RNTB begins operations and the new stablecoin framework is implemented.
Why Ripple’s Federal Approval Matters
For institutional clients, the significance extends beyond Ripple obtaining another regulatory authorization.
A federally supervised trust bank can bring stablecoin reserve management, digital asset custody, and fiduciary responsibilities closer to established financial oversight standards.
That alignment could reduce regulatory uncertainty for banks, payment providers, and enterprises considering Ripple’s infrastructure for digital asset transactions and treasury operations.
However, a national trust bank charter should not be confused with authorization to operate as a conventional commercial bank offering general deposit-taking and lending services.
The broader significance lies in the industry’s changing relationship with financial regulation.
Rather than developing entirely separate financial structures, major crypto companies are increasingly incorporating federally supervised institutions into their operations.
Ripple’s approval illustrates how stablecoins and digital asset services are becoming part of the regulated financial system, with institutional adoption increasingly tied to formal oversight, transparent reserves, and established custody standards.
Learn More with CryptoPulse.News
- What Are Stablecoins and Their Role in Modern Finance
- What Is Crypto Custody? From Private Keys to Custodians
- 7 Stablecoin Use Cases You Should Know
- What Is Tokenization and How It Transforms Finance
