Crypto.com Files for U.S. National Trust Bank Charter, Signaling Major Shift in Crypto Institutions

Crypto.com announced on October 24, 2025 that it has filed an application with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to establish a National Trust Bank charter in the United States. A national trust bank charter, distinct from a full-service commercial bank, authorizes a federally regulated entity to engage in fiduciary, custodial and asset-management services under a single federal oversight regime.

By filing this application, Crypto.com is signaling its intent to become a regulated custody and trust services provider for digital assets, a strategic move aimed at serving institutional clients, corporate treasuries, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and large entities seeking compliant infrastructure for crypto and tokenized assets.

In a press release accompanying the filing, Crypto.com stated that the National Trust Bank charter “is the latest step” in its mission to embed regulatory compliance and customer protection in its product and service portfolio. Founder and CEO Kris Marszalek said that regulated and secure offerings have been the company’s focus “since day one.”

Importantly, Crypto.com clarified that its existing subsidiary, Crypto.com Custody Trust Company (a non-depository trust company regulated by New Hampshire), will continue operating unaffected.

What This Could Unlock

For Crypto.com, gaining federal trust status means:

• Stronger appeal to institutional investors who demand clear regulatory oversight for custody, staking and digital-asset services.
• Potentially simpler access to regulators and large counterparties, since federal chartering standardizes oversight compared to a patchwork of state rules.
• Positioning as a bridge between traditional finance (TradFi) and decentralized finance (DeFi) by offering regulated infrastructure for tokenized assets, treasuries and digital-asset protocols.

Crypto.com’s move reflects a broader trend in the digital-asset industry. Other major firms such as Circle Internet Group and Paxos Trust Company have also applied for national trust bank charters under the OCC, pointing to increasing alignment between crypto firms and federal banking regulations. he regulatory momentum, for stablecoins, tokenization and financial infrastructure, is accelerating, and crypto firms are positioning themselves accordingly.

What to Watch

• While the filing is official, the OCC’s review process can take 12–18 months or more, and charter approval is not guaranteed.
• The precise role of the trust bank, what services it will offer, what assets it will hold, how it will manage risk, is still subject to regulatory negotiation.
• Should the charter be approved, Crypto.com would join a select club of crypto-firms under federal charter, a move that may accelerate institutional adoption and the regulatory scrutiny of crypto services.

By filing for a national trust bank charter, Crypto.com is no longer simply an exchange, it’s positioning itself as an institution built for the next generation of finance, where digital-asset treasuries, tokenized solutions and blockchain-native infrastructure converge with regulated banking frameworks. If granted, this charter could mark a watershed moment, one where crypto firms shift from speculative infrastructure providers to regulated financial service powerhouses.