Crypto Firms Deserve a Fair Shot: OCC Chief Advocates Equal Bank Chartering

In a bold endorsement of crypto’s integration into traditional finance, Acting Comptroller of the Currency Jonathan V. Gould declared on December 8, 2025, that cryptocurrency firms deserve “equal treatment” when applying for federal bank charters, rejecting any “artificial distinctions” based on their digital asset focus. Speaking at the Blockchain Association’s Policy Summit in Washington, D.C., Gould emphasized the OCC’s commitment to a level playing field, countering pushback from established banks wary of regulatory overload. This stance arrives amid a surge in applications: the OCC has fielded 14 charter requests in 2025 alone—matching the prior four years combined—including several from crypto-native entities.

Gould dismissed concerns over supervisory capacity, stating, “There is no justification for judging digital assets differently” from traditional ones. He highlighted the banking system’s evolution “from the telegraph era to the blockchain,” noting daily inquiries from national banks on tokenization, blockchain pilots, and digital products. Chartering, he argued, ensures the system “keeps pace with financial innovation,” providing a federally supervised path for crypto firms while upholding core standards. Precedents include Anchorage Digital’s 2021 charter for crypto custody and Erebor’s preliminary approval in October 2025, proving the OCC’s track record.

1. **Regulatory Clarity and Fairness**: Equal evaluation reduces barriers, allowing crypto applicants to navigate the process transparently without bias, fostering legal operations and market stability.
2. **Sparking Innovation**: Access to charters enables crypto firms to offer custody, stablecoins, and DeFi-linked services under federal oversight, spurring novel products like tokenized assets and cross-border payments.
3. **Bridging TradFi and Crypto**: This parity integrates digital natives into the $23 trillion U.S. banking ecosystem, enhancing credibility and unlocking institutional liquidity—potentially billions in tokenized treasuries.

Applicants must still satisfy rigorous capital reserves, AML/KYC compliance, and risk controls to mitigate volatility and cyber threats. Gould acknowledged monitoring needs but stressed innovation’s primacy, warning that hesitation could “reverse progress.” Past critiques, like Sen. Sherrod Brown’s 2021 calls to reassess Trump-era approvals, underscore ongoing tensions over nonbank privileges.

Analysts hail it as a “bullish signal” for crypto banking, with X users buzzing: “Crypto needs a federally supervised path to match modern economies!” Firms like Coinbase, eyeing trust charters, see it as mainstream validation amid Bitcoin’s $90K hover.

Gould’s advocacy marks a pivotal shift toward inclusive chartering, balancing oversight with opportunity to fortify U.S. finance against blockchain’s rise. As applications proliferate, this could catalyze a new era of hybrid banks—driving efficiency, adoption, and resilience for all stakeholders.