- Ripple received final OCC approval for Ripple National Trust Bank, following conditional approval in December 2025.
- The bank is set to oversee RLUSD reserves and provide digital asset custody services under federal supervision, while Standard Custody & Trust Company remains RLUSD’s issuer.
Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse announced on October 26 that the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) had granted final authorization for Ripple National Trust Bank (RNTB). This milestone concludes the institution’s chartering process almost twelve months after the regulator initially granted conditional approval in December 2025.
Ultimately, the green light provides Ripple with a federally regulated structure to handle the reserves backing its Ripple USD (RLUSD) stablecoin alongside offering digital asset custody solutions. The enterprise noted that the newly approved bank will also function as a collateral trustee for RLUSD reserves to safeguard stablecoin holders.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Garlinghouse expressed his enthusiasm for the OCC’s final go-ahead for Ripple National Trust Bank, highlighting that it establishes a federally overseen foundation to back RLUSD and deliver enterprise-grade digital asset custody. He noted that the decision illustrates how traditional finance and cryptocurrency can collaborate under federal supervision.
Big news heading into @RippleSwell: the @USOCC has granted final approval for Ripple National Trust Bank.
This gives Ripple a federally supervised platform to support $RLUSD and provide digital asset custody to enterprises.
We’ve always said crypto and banks work better together — this is what that looks like. Real innovation, real accountability, federal oversight.
The revolution isn’t happening outside the system. It’s happening from within it.— Brad Garlinghouse (@bgarlinghouse) October 26, 2026
This disclosure arrives while U.S. regulatory bodies continue to formulate explicit guidelines for stablecoin operators and other virtual currency ventures.
RLUSD Reserves and Digital Asset Custody at the Center
Ripple National Trust Bank holds authorization to administer the segregated reserves underpinning RLUSD, serve as a collateral trustee for those assets, and deliver fiduciary custody options for digital tokens. These operations will be governed by OCC federal oversight.
However, this regulatory clearance does not transform Ripple into a traditional commercial lender. A national trust bank functions via a specialized charter, meaning the approved operations exclude standard retail deposit accounts or commercial lending.
Furthermore, RLUSD retains its original issuer. Standard Custody & Trust Company—a limited-purpose trust company owned by Ripple and supervised by the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS)—keeps its role in issuing the stablecoin. The newly established national trust bank introduces federal supervision to the RLUSD framework instead of superseding the existing issuer.
Since debuting in December 2024, RLUSD has climbed to a market capitalization near $2.6 billion. The stablecoin relies on backing from cash equivalents, U.S. government securities, and U.S. dollar deposits. BNY acts as its principal reserve custodian, and Ripple releases monthly independent third-party attestations detailing its reserve holdings and circulating supply.
The final validation arrives amid Ripple’s broader expansion of institutional offerings spanning digital asset infrastructure, custody, and payments. The organization stated it will maintain collaboration with the NYDFS, OCC, and additional regulatory agencies as the bank gets ready to launch operations.
This regulatory update does not directly alter the classification of XRP or ensure any upward price movement for the token. Instead, it supplies Ripple with another federally supervised framework to support its institutional custody and stablecoin operations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ripple National Trust Bank?
Ripple National Trust Bank (RNTB) is a newly chartered bank that has received final regulatory approval from the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to provide digital asset custody and oversee RLUSD reserves under federal supervision.
Will Ripple National Trust Bank issue RLUSD?
No. Standard Custody & Trust Company, regulated by the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS), will remain the issuer of RLUSD. The new national trust bank adds federal oversight to support the stablecoin’s reserves and custody services.
Does this make Ripple a traditional commercial bank?
No. Operating under a specialized national trust bank charter, Ripple National Trust Bank is not authorized to engage in ordinary deposit-taking or commercial lending.
How is RLUSD backed?
RLUSD is backed by U.S. dollar deposits, U.S. government securities, and other cash equivalents, boasting a market capitalization of approximately $2.6 billion since its December 2024 launch.
