Coinbase has received conditional approval from U.S. regulators for a national trust company charter, marking a significant step toward expanding its institutional crypto services.
The approval, granted by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, would allow Coinbase to operate as a federally regulated crypto custodian once full authorization is secured. This status could enhance trust among large institutional investors seeking regulated custody solutions.
The company emphasized that the charter would not transform it into a traditional bank. Coinbase will not accept retail deposits or engage in fractional reserve banking, instead focusing on custody and related financial services.
The development comes amid a broader shift in U.S. regulatory posture toward cryptocurrencies following the re-election of Donald Trump, with authorities adopting a more supportive stance toward digital assets.
Coinbase said federal oversight would provide consistency across its operations and enable the rollout of new offerings, including payments and other financial services tailored to institutional clients.
The move also follows similar progress by other industry players, signaling growing integration of crypto platforms into the regulated financial system.
