Bridge, a stablecoin platform under the ownership of payments giant Stripe, has secured conditional approval to function as a federally chartered national trust bank, as confirmed by the United States Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). This pivotal step, though still pending final approval, positions Bridge to provide stablecoin and digital asset services directly to businesses, under federal oversight.
In an official announcement on Tuesday, Bridge disclosed that the OCC had granted it conditional approval, setting the stage for the firm to manage digital asset custody, issue stablecoins, and oversee stablecoin reserves once fully sanctioned. The charter is expected to empower Bridge to deliver its services with enhanced regulatory support, aligning with the stablecoin legislation enacted in July 2025.
"Our compliance framework already positions Bridge to be GENIUS ready," the company noted, referencing the recent stablecoin legislation. "Achieving a national trust bank charter will give our customers the regulatory assurance needed to confidently scale their stablecoin operations."
Bridge is among several crypto-focused enterprises pursuing national trust bank charters from the OCC in the wake of the GENIUS Act. In December, the OCC had similarly conditionally approved applications from BitGo, Fidelity Digital Assets, and Paxos to transition their state-level trust operations, along with Circle and Ripple's applications for national charters.
According to the OCC's records, Bridge submitted its application for a bank charter in October, receiving approval on February 12. Stripe, in 2025, acquired Bridge through a $1.1 billion transaction aimed at bolstering the company's capacity for stablecoin payments.
In a recent communication, the American Bankers Association (ABA) expressed concerns over the rapid pace of OCC's approvals for crypto companies' bank charters, urging the agency to exercise caution. The ABA highlighted the ongoing ambiguity surrounding the rules under the GENIUS Act, pointing out that national trust charters might allow firms to sidestep regulatory scrutiny.
"The ABA strongly advises the OCC to proceed cautiously, not to adhere strictly to traditional timelines, and to ensure that each applicant's full regulatory obligations are clear before advancing their charter applications," the letter stated.
Meanwhile, U.S. lawmakers are crafting a comprehensive digital asset market framework, with White House officials engaging with both crypto and banking sectors to tackle the complexities of stablecoin yields. The inclusion of stablecoins in the market framework, alongside debates on tokenized equities and conflicts of interest, presents a significant challenge as the Senate prepares for a potential vote.
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