Coinbase Secures OCC Approval for National Trust Charter

Trusted Editorial content, reviewed by leading industry experts and seasoned editors. Ad Disclosure Coinbase secures OCC unconditional approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to operate under a federal national trust bank charter, the company announced Monday. The decision marks a significant regulatory milestone for the largest U.S. cryptocurrency exchange and custodian. It allows Coinbase to shift from a patchwork of state licenses to a single federal framework, with plans to expand digital asset custody, stablecoin services, and payments offerings. What the Approval Means for Coinbase Rick Schonberg, Coinbase’s head of prime trading and custody, described the approval as the result of years of advocacy for clearer rules and stronger oversight. “The OCC’s approval allows us to expand our custody capabilities within a consistent federal regulatory framework,” Schonberg said in a company statement. “As digital assets become more connected to the financial system, clear and consistent oversight matters. This approval is a step toward aligning digital-asset custody with the infrastructure that individuals and institutions know and rely on.” Coinbase has oper...