Ripple Gets Final Approval for U.S. National Trust Bank

A Major Federal Milestone for RippleXRP+0.46%

Ripple has achieved a significant milestone in its goal to connect crypto with traditional finance.

The United States Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) has officially approved Ripple National Trust Bank (RNTB).

Ripple Chief Executive Officer Brad Garlinghouse announced the regulator's final sign-off late Monday on X.

This decision grants one of the crypto industry's largest players a federal trust charter to operate under direct U.S. government oversight.

How Ripple Earned Its National Charter

Securing a national banking charter in the United States is a rigorous process that takes time and detailed scrutiny.

Ripple submitted its initial application for the national trust bank back in July 2025.

The OCC granted conditional approval in December 2025, giving Ripple a list of requirements to complete before starting operations.

With the regulator's full sign-off now secured, Ripple can launch its national trust bank under direct federal oversight.

What Will Ripple National Trust Bank Actually Do?

Unlike consumer banks, a national trust bank does not focus on everyday checking accounts or local branch offices.

Instead, Ripple National Trust Bank will specialize in reserve management and institutional asset custody.

Key Responsibilities of the New Bank

• Managing Reserve Assets: RNTB will serve as trustee for the real-world financial reserves backing Ripple's stablecoin.
• Providing Regulated Custody: The bank will safely store digital assets for institutions using crypto in trading and treasury operations.
• Strengthening Compliance: The entity adds a federal layer of oversight to complement state-level financial regulation.

Understanding the Role of RLUSD and XRP

Ripple introduced its U.S. dollar-backed stablecoin, RLUSD, in December 2024 to support cross-border settlements.

Since its launch, RLUSD has grown to a market capitalization of approximately $2.5 billion, placing it among the top 50 stablecoins worldwide.

Standard Custody & Trust Company, Ripple's New York-regulated entity, will remain the official issuer of RLUSD.

By adding RNTB to manage reserve assets, RLUSD now operates under both state and federal regulatory frameworks.

The stablecoin's reserves are made up of U.S. dollar deposits, short-term U.S. government securities, and cash equivalents.

Institutional custodian BNY (Bank of New York Mellon) currently holds the vast majority of these backing assets.

Alongside RLUSD, Ripple continues to use XRP—the world's 5th largest digital asset by market capitalization—to facilitate cross-border transactions.

Past performance of digital assets or financial operations is not indicative of future results. Digital asset markets remain volatile and subject to risk.

Bridging Crypto and Traditional Banking

For years, Ripple leadership has advocated for building compliance-first tools that traditional financial institutions can adopt.

Garlinghouse highlighted this ongoing strategy following the OCC's approval decision.

"For years, we've said crypto and banks work better together. Final approval for Ripple National Trust Bank is what that looks like in practice. We've spent over a decade building regulated financial infrastructure that institutions can actually use at scale. A national trust charter gives us an even stronger foundation for RLUSD and the institutional products we're building across payments, custody and capital markets."

What Comes Next for Ripple and U.S. Regulations?

As the national trust bank launches operations, Ripple plans to maintain active coordination with state and federal authorities.

This operational rollout coincides with new U.S. regulatory frameworks taking effect, including rules under the GENIUS Act.

By securing federal trust oversight, Ripple position its institutional offerings to align with evolving national financial standards.