Zerohash, a blockchain infrastructure provider, has filed an application for a National Trust Bank Charter with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), joining a wave of digital asset firms — including Crypto.com, Ripple, Circle, Paxos, Fidelity, and BitGo — now pursuing or holding federal bank licensing.
What Happened: OCC Charter Filing
Stephen Gardner, the chief legal and compliance officer at Zerohash, said the application was a natural next step for the company.
A national trust bank charter allows an institution to operate as a trust bank across all U.S. states. It enables fiduciary activities, asset custody, and settlement services — but does not permit deposit-taking, lending, or FDIC insurance coverage.
If approved, the charter would let Zerohash expand its service offerings under a federal regulatory framework. The company would join a growing list of crypto firms that have already moved in this direction.
Crypto.com received conditional OCC approval in late February. Ripple, Circle, Paxos, and Fidelity secured similar approvals in 2025, while BitGo obtained full OCC approval in Dec. 2025. World Liberty Financial's subsidiary filed its own application in Jan. 2026 to establish World Liberty Trust Company, National Association.
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Why It Matters: Federal Crypto Regulation
The growing number of OCC approvals for crypto firms points to a structural shift toward federally regulated digital asset infrastructure.
But it has drawn pushback. The American Bankers Association has raised concerns that extending the trust charter to entities not involved in traditional fiduciary activities could blur the definition of what constitutes a bank — and create openings for regulatory arbitrage.
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