Ripple Applies for U.S. Bank Charter: A Game-Changer in the Making?
In a bold and potentially transformative move, Ripple Labs has applied to establish its national trust bank, officially named Ripple National Trust Bank, according to a public record from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). While the application is still pending approval, it signals Ripple’s growing ambition to integrate further into the heart of the U.S. financial system.
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A New Chapter for Ripple?
The filing, listed under OCC Control Number 2025-Charter-342347, proposes a national trust bank headquartered in New York, with a mailing and operational address at 111-119 W. 19th Street. The proposed charter number is 25364, and trust powers have been formally requested, indicating that Ripple intends to offer custody services, asset management, and other regulated banking functionalities if approved.
The spokesperson listed is Brian Spahn, a Ripple representative based in San Francisco, whose contact details were included in the application. This marks a significant step forward in Ripple’s strategy to bridge the traditional finance sector and blockchain-based solutions.
Why This Matters
If the OCC approves this application, Ripple would become one of the very few blockchain-native companies to operate a nationally chartered trust bank in the United States. This opens doors to:
- Providing regulated custodial services for digital assets (including XRP),
- Enabling seamless cross-border payment infrastructure using RippleNet and the XRP Ledger,
- Offering institutional services with full compliance under U.S. banking law.
Given Ripple’s ongoing success in legal battles with the SEC and its expanding footprint in the global payments sector, this bank charter could position the company to challenge traditional financial institutions, or even become one directly.
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What Could Be Next?
The timing is particularly interesting. Ripple’s move comes as the U.S. government explores regulatory clarity for digital assets, and major players like BlackRock and Fidelity deepen their crypto involvement. Could Ripple be preparing to offer fully-regulated crypto banking in the U.S.? Or is this a foundation for launching U.S.-based stablecoins or tokenised asset services?
We Want to Hear from You
With Ripple’s ambitions growing louder, one big question remains: Should Ripple be allowed to operate a national trust bank?
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