Circle Seeks OCC Approval for First National Digital Currency Bank
Circle Internet Group, Inc., the fintech company behind USDC, has formally filed an application with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to charter First National Digital Currency Bank, N.A., a national trust bank that would expand the regulatory backbone of the stablecoin ecosystem in the U.S.
If granted, the OCC charter would authorize Circle to operate the new entity as a federally regulated trust institution. The bank would manage the USDC Reserve on behalf of Circle’s U.S. stablecoin issuer, ensure robust oversight of the dollar reserves that back USDC in circulation, and offer digital asset custody services for institutional clients — further bridging the gap between traditional finance and the blockchain ecosystem.
Circle’s move comes as momentum builds for comprehensive federal stablecoin rules under the proposed GENIUS Act, which is expected to tighten standards for the issuance, reserve management, and operational oversight of payment stablecoins. A federal trust charter would position Circle to align with these anticipated requirements, while reinforcing USDC’s role as the largest regulated dollar stablecoin used by leading fintechs, banks, and payment platforms.
“By applying for a national trust charter, Circle is taking proactive steps to further strengthen our USDC infrastructure,” said Jeremy Allaire, Circle’s co-founder, chairman and CEO. “We believe this is a meaningful step to align with emerging U.S. regulation, enhance the reach and resilience of the dollar, and develop neutral market infrastructure that leading institutions can confidently build on.”
Circle’s latest move builds on a long track record of seeking pioneering regulatory authorizations. The company was the first to secure New York’s BitLicense in 2015 and remains regulated by NYDFS, one of the most rigorous digital asset oversight regimes in the U.S. Internationally, Circle became the first global stablecoin issuer to comply with the EU’s new MiCA framework in 2024 and recently gained in-principle approval in Abu Dhabi to operate as a licensed money services provider.
If the OCC approves the charter, First National Digital Currency Bank, N.A. would be among the first national trust banks focused exclusively on digital dollar stablecoins and institutional-grade crypto custody — a milestone that could set a new standard for the convergence of crypto, banking, and U.S. monetary policy infrastructure.