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Stripe’s crypto unit Bridge obtains initial approval to establish a trust bank

By Thomson Reuters Feb 17, 2026 | 3:34 PM

Feb 17 (Reuters) – Bridge has gained conditional approval to set up a national trust bank from ​a top U.S. financial ‌regulator, the Stripe-owned stablecoin infrastructure provider said on Tuesday.

Crypto giants, including Ripple and Circle, in December received preliminary approval to ‌establish ​national trust banks, ⁠marking a significant step ⁠in integrating digital assets into the regulated banking system.

The preliminary approval by the Office of the ​Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) “positions Bridge to help enterprises, fintechs, crypto ⁠businesses, and financial institutions ⁠build with digital dollars ​inside a clear federal framework,” it said.

If ​Bridge receives final OCC approval, ‌it will be authorized to offer businesses custody of digital assets, stablecoin issuance and orchestration, and stablecoin ⁠reserve management.

World Liberty Financial, a crypto venture backed by the family of President Donald ⁠Trump, ‌said in January its ⁠subsidiary had filed an application ​to ‌establish a national trust ​bank focused ⁠on stablecoin operations.

Stripe acquired Bridge in October 2024, in a deal reportedly valued at $1.1 billion.

(Reporting by Juby Babu in Mexico City; Editing by ​Sriraj Kalluvila)