Ripple National Trust Bank Receives Final OCC Approval

Ripple has completed its chartering process with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. On October 26, 2026, the agency granted final approval for Ripple National Trust Bank, a federally chartered institution. This follows conditional approval granted in December 2025 and marks the end of a multi-month review period.

The bank will operate under direct U.S. banking supervision. Its authorized activities include managing the segregated reserves that back the RLUSD stablecoin, serving as collateral trustee for RLUSD holders, and delivering fiduciary digital asset custody services. The charter allows Ripple National Trust Bank to begin operations once established.

RLUSD Remains Issued Under New York Oversight

RLUSD will continue to be issued by Standard Custody & Trust Company, Ripple’s New York Department of Financial Services-regulated limited purpose trust company. The stablecoin, launched in December 2024, tracks the U.S. dollar and is fully backed by dollar deposits, U.S. government securities, and other cash equivalents.

BNY serves as the primary reserve custodian, with monthly independent third-party attestations covering circulating supply and backing assets. The new federal charter adds a layer of national-level supervision to the infrastructure supporting RLUSD, which already sees use in Ripple’s payments systems and as collateral in its prime brokerage operations.

Institutional Adoption and Expanding Capabilities

Ripple National Trust Bank strengthens Ripple’s position among a small group of crypto-native firms operating under federal trust bank charters. Companies such as Circle, which issues USDC, along with BitGo and Fidelity Digital Assets, already hold similar approvals. With this decision, Ripple now oversees issuance and custody infrastructure for two of the largest regulated dollar stablecoins.

The approval also supports potential growth in institutional use cases. Enterprises often require regulated custodians for stablecoin reserves, and the federally supervised bank can help meet those standards. Additional integrations, including with Standard Chartered for custody on the XRP Ledger and planned connections with trading venues like LMAX Group, are under development and subject to further approvals.

Leadership Comments on Regulatory Milestone

Chief Legal Officer Stuart Alderoty highlighted Ripple’s strategy of building within the regulatory perimeter. Senior Vice President Jack McDonald noted that the charter brings federal banking supervision directly into the systems institutions rely on for reserves and custody.

Ripple’s Swell Conference Underway

The milestone arrives just as Ripple prepares for its annual Swell conference in New York, which opened October 27, 2026. The event brings together financial institutions, XRP Ledger developers, and researchers to explore blockchain applications in payments and beyond. The timing underscores Ripple’s focus on bridging digital assets with traditional finance at a moment when stablecoin regulation advances in the United States.

Ripple plans to continue working closely with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the New York Department of Financial Services, and other regulators as the bank commences operations and the broader framework established by the GENIUS Act takes effect. The company maintains that clear rules and rigorous oversight are essential for scaling responsible innovation in digital assets.