Is Ripple Close to Becoming a Federally Regulated U.S. Trust Bank?

Ripple is continuing to work through the last pre-opening requirements for the Ripple National Trust Bank. The OCC issued conditional approval in December 2025, and the company now aims to complete the remaining steps for full authorization. The charter would allow Ripple to operate as a federally regulated trust bank within the U.S. banking system.

The trust license grants authority for custody and settlement services but does not allow traditional deposits or consumer loans. Ripple plans to use the charter to support institutional custody, cross-border settlements, and reserves for its USD-pegged stablecoin, RLUSD. The company positions RNTB as a regulated entry point for institutions using digital assets.

Ripple also expects supervision from the OCC and oversight from the New York Department of Financial Services. The dual structure covers the trust bank charter and the RLUSD stablecoin framework. The company notes that this alignment supports long-term plans for regulated asset management across multiple platforms.

Ripple Stablecoin Treasury Activity Expands

RLUSD activity has increased in recent days as minting and burning events appeared on Ethereum and the XRP Ledger. The treasury minted 10 million RLUSD today and burned 5 million tokens hours later. The minting totals since March 2 crossed 98 million tokens across several batches.

The data signals rising preparation for broader stablecoin distribution once the banking structure reaches full approval. RLUSD aims to serve institutional clients across payment rails, and the trust charter supports this objective. Ripple also plans to use RNTB as the foundation for compliant settlement flows tied to its stablecoin.

Global developments mirror this progress. As we reported, Australia approved the regulated digital dollar AUDD on the XRP Ledger, which shows growing adoption of infrastructure connected to Ripple. These moves add pressure for U.S. agencies to finalize guidance for stablecoin operations and cross-border payments.

Rising Demand for U.S. Banking Charters

Industry filings surged as firms seek national bank charters during the broader shift toward regulatory clarity. Eighteen applications arrived in 2025, and early 2026 saw more entrants. The list includes crypto firms and global fintech companies that want direct access to nationwide operations.

As we reported, the recent approvals include trust charters for Circle, Paxos, BitGo, and Fidelity Digital Assets. These firms received conditional clearance to operate as national trust banks with similar restrictions. The OCC is also reviewing applications from Revolut, ZeroHash, and World Liberty Financial.

Anchorage Digital remains the only fully active national trust bank with complete approval. However, OCC leaders say new entrants help the financial sector expand. The agency now oversees sixty national trust banks as market demand grows.

Political Momentum Behind Crypto Banking Expansion

President Donald Trump has placed the CLARITY Act at the center of his digital asset agenda. He urged lawmakers to pass the bill and argued that delays place the U.S. behind other global markets. 

His administration also pushed regulators to open the banking system to new firms seeking national charters.

A 2025 executive order directed agencies to prevent political bias during banking access decisions. This guidance supports firms like Ripple as they pursue regulated roles. The administration also encouraged growth in stablecoin yield markets while banks challenged parts of the proposal.