American Bankers Association Urges OCC to Slow Crypto Trust Bank Charters After 2025 Approvals

On 11 February 2026, the American Bankers Association asked the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to slow or pause approvals of national trust bank charters for crypto and stablecoin companies. The group pointed to unresolved regulatory frameworks, financial stability concerns, and what it sees as unfair competitive advantages from limited-purpose charters following OCC approvals for firms such as Ripple, BitGo, Paxos, Circle, and Fidelity Digital Assets. Crypto industry advocates argue these charters provide needed regulatory clarity and accuse traditional banks of trying to shield their market position.