The U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) has granted final approval to Ripple National Trust Bank (RNTB), Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse confirmed in a post on X late Monday.
The decision allows Ripple, a fintech firm specializing in blockchain technology, digital assets, cross-border payments, and tokenization, to operate a specialized bank under federal supervision.
The approval represents a further step toward integrating cryptocurrency businesses into the regulated financial sector. Ripple initially applied for a national trust bank charter in July 2025 and received conditional approval from the OCC in December before securing final authorization this week.
The development also advances Garlinghouse’s argument that cryptocurrency firms and traditional banks can collaborate to deliver financial services to institutional customers.
In a company statement, Garlinghouse said the final approval demonstrates how crypto businesses and banks can work together. He noted that Ripple has spent more than a decade building regulated financial infrastructure and said the charter would strengthen the foundation for RLUSD and its institutional offerings across payments, custody, and capital markets.
Ripple National Trust Bank to Manage RLUSD Reserves
RNTB will oversee the assets backing Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin, which is designed to maintain a value equivalent to the U.S. dollar. The bank will also act as a trustee for these reserves and provide regulated digital asset custody services to institutional clients.
These services are intended to help businesses securely hold digital assets and use them for payments, trading, and treasury operations.
RLUSD will remain issued by Standard Custody & Trust Company, Ripple’s New York-regulated subsidiary. The establishment of RNTB adds federal oversight to the stablecoin’s existing regulatory arrangements, which already include state-level supervision.
Since launching in December 2024, RLUSD has reached a reported market capitalization of approximately $2.5 billion, placing it among the world’s 50 largest stablecoins. It is used in Ripple’s payment services and as collateral on Ripple Prime.
The stablecoin is backed by U.S. dollar deposits, government securities, and other cash-equivalent assets, with BNY holding most of the reserves. XRP, meanwhile, remains part of Ripple’s broader ecosystem and is used to facilitate cross-border transactions.
Ripple Moves Forward Amid Changing U.S. Crypto Rules
Ripple said it will continue working with the OCC, New York regulators, and other authorities as RNTB prepares to begin operations.
The approval comes as the United States advances its stablecoin regulatory framework under the GENIUS Act. The new rules are expected to establish requirements for reserve management, regulatory compliance, and stablecoin operations.
With the charter finalized, Ripple has strengthened its position in regulated digital asset services. The development could support the company’s expansion in stablecoin management, institutional custody, and blockchain-based payments while bringing its operations closer to the traditional banking system.
