Ripple Moves Toward U.S. Bank Charter for Digital Asset Services

Ripple has applied for a U.S. national bank charter with oversight from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). If approved, Ripple would operate as a federally chartered digital trust bank, allowing it to custody digital assets, manage client funds, and hold RLUSD reserves directly with a Federal Reserve Master Account. This move positions Ripple to reduce reliance on intermediaries, cut costs, and expand blockchain-driven payment solutions under regulatory legitimacy.