Washington, DC – March 07: US President Donald Trump speaks alongside the US Treasury Secretary … (+)
Coinciding with the very first summit of White House cryptography, the office of the Currency Controller published a series of interpretation mail Report a tangible change in American regulatory attitudes towards digital assets.
For years, the American banking system is hostile to crypto, often refusing services to companies based on blockchain and winning the nickname “Chokepoint 2.0 operation».
From now on, the latest western guidelines suppress key obstacles, allowing national banks to engage more freely with digital assets while retaining robust risk management frameworks.
West embraces innovation, softens the rules of cryptography under a new leadership
Occ is an independent entity within the American Treasury Department. It regulates and oversees national banks, ensuring that they operate safely and fairly.
Historically, the OCC has been careful to allow banks to engage in cryptocurrency activities, require additional approvals and impose an in-depth examination. However, under the direction of action Controller Rodney E. Hood, appointed at the beginning of 2025, the West now adopts a more user -friendly approach to innovation, aligns for broader efforts to integrate digital assets into the consumer economy.
WOI Greenlights Crypto Services for banks
On March 7, 2025, the Occ is officially declared That banks can now provide cryptocurrency services, including custody, Stablecoin reserves and blockchain participation, without requiring special approval.
This cancels Before Restrictive directives of the Biden administration, which forced banks to consult with preventive way with regulators before engaging in cryptographic activities.
Indeed, the new position of the West treats cryptographic services within the framework of the traditional bank, eliminating the additional regulatory obstacles which previously dissuaded financial institutions from entering space.
“Digital assets should and must be part of the American economy”, ” said Rodney E. Hood, Mint Acting Controller. “I undertake to develop a regulatory framework for digital assets to promote innovation while maintaining the security, solidity and equity of the federal banking system.”
WOI authorizes banks to engage freely with digital assets
THE new The letters of interpretation overthrow the letter of interpretation 1179 of 2021, which imposed strict surveillance requirements on banks seeking to engage in activities related to the crypto.
Under the revised policy, national banks are now authorized to provide cryptocurrency care services for customers, providing secure storage and management of private keys.
They are also allowed to contain Stablecoin reserves, especially for the stages-guard supported in one by one by US dollars.
This confirms that banks can maintain these reserves If they ensure that the funds correspond to the number of stablescoins emitted. In addition, banks can participate in blockchain networks by acting as nodes To validate transactions, strengthen their capacity to support decentralized financial operations.
The United States promotes the integration of blockchain into the bank
The West’s decision highlights its growing confidence in the capacity of banks to manage the risks linked to crypto and the wider thrust to integrate blockchain technology into the American financial system.
The agency noted that the previous increased control was no longer necessary, given the maturation of the industry and the development of stronger risk management practices.
This regulatory change comes just when President Trump reaffirmed his commitment to end the policies that have sought to exclude cryptographic companies from banking services.
“Last year, I promised to make America the bitcoin superpower of the world and the cryptographic capital of the planet, and we take historical measures to keep this promise”, Trump said At the top of the White House crypto.
Bank on digital assets
Although the WC’s decision represents an important victory for the digital asset industry, challenges remain. The Federal Reserve and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation have not yet clarified their positions on cryptographic banks, and federal agencies can still impose restrictions through alternative regulatory channels.
Nevertheless, the latest West guidelines mark a turning point, reporting that the American financial system finally opens its doors to digital assets.
By rationalizing regulatory approvals and recognizing digital assets as legitimate financial instruments, the OCC lays the basics of a wider adoption of crypto.
Banks now have regulatory clarity to engage with blockchain technology and provide services that meet evolving demands for the modern economy.
