In a landmark regulatory step, Crypto.com has filed an application for a National Trust Bank Charter with the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), signaling its intent to secure a federal banking license for digital asset custody and financial services.
The move strengthens Crypto.com’s position as one of the most compliance-focused players in the crypto industry, expanding its capabilities to provide bank-grade custody, staking, and asset management across multiple blockchains, including its native Cronos network. The charter would enable the company to serve institutional investors, ETFs, and digital treasuries through a federally regulated framework.
“Our goal has always been to build the world’s most secure and trusted crypto ecosystem,” said Kris Marszalek, Co-Founder and CEO of Crypto.com. “Applying for a National Trust Bank Charter is a natural next step as we continue to expand our regulated product suite and meet the highest standards of customer protection.”
Regulatory Progress and Global Expansion
This filing will not affect the existing operations of Crypto.com Custody Trust Company, which remains a Qualified Custodian under the New Hampshire Banking Department. The development comes just days after Crypto.com secured a MiFID license in the European Union, allowing it to offer regulated investment services across EU markets.
Together, these moves underline the exchange’s global push for institutional trust and compliance leadership, positioning it among the few crypto firms pursuing both U.S. banking authorization and EU financial licensing.
If approved, the National Trust Bank Charter would place Crypto.com in the ranks of federally recognized digital asset banks such as Anchorage Digital and Paxos, marking a defining moment in crypto’s integration with traditional finance.