Circle Secures OCC Approval for U.S. National Trust Bank

The U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) gave Circle Internet Group final approval to establish a federally chartered national trust bank, called Circle National Trust. The charter allows the company to provide regulated digital‑asset custody services for its USD Coin (USDC) stablecoin and marks the first time a major U.S. stablecoin issuer has obtained such a bank licence.

The news triggered a sharp market reaction. Circle’s shares surged as much as 14% in intraday trading and closed the day up about 5%, lifting the company’s market value by roughly $1 billion. Analysts see the licence as a step toward broader institutional adoption of stablecoins.

Regulators view the approval as a way to simplify Circle’s compliance landscape, replacing a patchwork of state licences with a single federal framework. With USDC holding a circulation of roughly $73 billion, the move could set a precedent for other stablecoin providers seeking clearer regulatory footing in the United States.