News: The US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) has granted Coinbase conditional approval to form Coinbase National Trust Company. This charter covers custody, staking, and fiduciary services, and replaces state-level oversight with a federal regime. Coinbase held $376 billion in crypto assets under custody at the end of 2025, representing nearly 13% of global crypto market capitalization. Coinbase joins Ripple Labs, BitGo, Circle, Fidelity Digital Assets, and Paxos as firms with OCC approval. The company still needs to meet pre-opening requirements related to governance, risk controls, and regulatory examinations.
AI Analysis: This approval is a significant regulatory win for Coinbase, enhancing its credibility with institutional investors who often prefer federally supervised custodians. It positions Coinbase for further expansion into payment products while solidifying its leading role in the crypto custody market.
