ZeroHash Seeks OCC Charter for Federal Crypto Oversight

TLDR

• ZeroHash has applied for a National Trust Bank Charter from the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.
• The proposed charter would allow ZeroHash to issue stablecoins and custody digital assets under federal oversight.
• ZeroHash would not accept customer deposits or engage in commercial lending if regulators approve the charter.
• The company plans to create Zerohash National Trust to handle blockchain-based custody and related services.
• ZeroHash already holds money transmitter licenses in 51 U.S. jurisdictions and operates internationally.

ZeroHash has applied for a National Trust Bank Charter from the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. The company submitted the application on March 4 and seeks federal oversight for digital asset services. The proposal would create Zerohash National Trust to manage custody, stablecoins, and blockchain-based financial operations.

ZeroHash Seeks OCC Trust Charter for Federal Oversight

ZeroHash filed its application with the OCC to operate as a national trust bank. The proposed entity would function under direct federal supervision. It would not accept customer deposits or provide commercial lending services.

If approved, ZeroHash could issue stablecoins and custody digital assets nationwide. The charter would also permit staking services and trade execution linked to cryptocurrencies. The OCC will review the filing and open a public comment period before any decision.

The company already holds money transmitter licenses in 51 U.S. jurisdictions. It also operates internationally across more than 200 jurisdictions. However, it currently navigates multiple state frameworks for compliance.

A national charter would allow ZeroHash to operate under a unified federal regime. The company aims to streamline oversight for stablecoin management and reserve handling. The application states the entity will focus on blockchain-based custody services.

ZeroHash registered as a Money Services Business with FinCEN. In 2025, a subsidiary secured a non-depository trust company charter in North Carolina. That approval allows it to act as a qualified custodian for certain advisors and retirement accounts.

Platform Growth and Industry Context for ZeroHash

ZeroHash was founded in Chicago in 2017 by Edward Woodford and Brian Liston. The firm builds backend infrastructure for crypto and stablecoin services. Its platform supports more than 100 digital assets.

The company processes fiat-to-crypto on-ramps and trading functions through application programming interfaces. It also provides tokenization systems, payroll tools, and stablecoin settlement rails. ZeroHash reports processing over $65 billion in transaction volume.

Clients include Morgan Stanley, Interactive Brokers, Stripe, and Franklin Templeton. The firm integrates stablecoin conversions and settlements for Stripe. It also supports crypto trading for Morgan Stanley’s E*Trade platform.

ZeroHash has raised more than $286 million in funding. In 2025, it secured about $100 million in financing. That round valued the company at nearly $1 billion.

Investors include Point72 Ventures, Bain Capital Ventures, NYCA, Interactive Brokers, SoFi, Apollo, and Tastytrade. The firm states it built infrastructure that allows clients to embed crypto services without separate regulatory systems. It positions the charter as the next step in expanding regulated stablecoin operations.

The OCC has granted conditional approvals to other digital asset firms. In December 2025, Circle, Ripple, BitGo, Fidelity Digital Assets, and Paxos received similar approvals. In early 2026, companies tied to Stripe and Crypto.com also received initial approvals.

Banking trade groups have raised concerns about crypto-related federal charters. The American Bankers Association and the Independent Community Bankers of America have urged regulators to move carefully. The OCC continues to review ZeroHash’s application without providing a timeline.

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