Senator Urges Banking Regulator To Block Crypto Charter Linked To Trump

United States President Donald Trump’s family-backed crypto firm has applied for a national trust bank charter, and one of the Senate’s most vocal financial critics wants regulators to stop the process until the President severs his financial ties to the venture.

According to filings and public statements, the firm aims to use the charter to issue and manage a dollar-pegged stablecoin called USD1, which has grown quickly since launch.

Warren Raises Conflict Concerns With The OCC

US Senator Elizabeth Warren sent a formal letter to Comptroller Jonathan Gould asking the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to pause its review of the application until Trump divests and fully eliminates financial links to World Liberty Financial, reports say.

The senator wrote that approving a federally chartered bank while the sitting President retains ties to the business could create serious government ethics problems.

The Company’s Plan And Its Scale

World Liberty Financial wants a national trust bank that would offer stablecoin issuance, custody and conversion services.

The stablecoin USD1 has reached more than $3.3 billion in circulation since its launch, a figure regulators and lawmakers are watching closely as the firm seeks federal oversight.

The move would place certain crypto activities under the same kind of supervision given to traditional trust banks.

Reports note that Warren’s demand is rooted in a concern about the public’s trust in regulators. She asked the OCC for a written reply by January 20, highlighting the urgency of the matter for lawmakers who oversee banking rules.

Other Democrats have signaled similar worries about the optics and legal questions that could follow if a regulator reviews a bank linked to the incumbent President.

Several crypto firms have recently sought national charters or conditional approvals, prompting a broader debate over how stablecoins should be regulated. Supporters of bank charters say federal oversight can protect customers and bring clarity.

Critics argue that when a highly political figure is connected to an applicant, extra caution is required so that regulatory independence is preserved. Reporting on this case has focused on both the bank application and the potential effect on trust in federal agencies.

World Liberty and related affiliates have been active on multiple fronts, including new product launches and international talks. Some outlets noted a newly announced partnership with external parties to explore broader payment uses for USD1, an effort that underlines how quickly the stablecoin has spread.

Featured image from Inc/Getty Images, chart from TradingView