Stripe-Owned Stablecoin Platform Bridge Secures Approval for National Trust Bank Charter

4 days ago

KEY FACTS: Bridge, the stablecoin infrastructure platform acquired by Stripe for $1.1 billion in 2025, announced on February 17, 2026, that it has received conditional approval from the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) on February 12, 2026, to organize and operate as a federally chartered national trust bank, following its application submitted in October 2025. This preliminary charter, once finalized upon meeting conditions related to governance, risk management, compliance, capital, and operational readiness under ongoing federal supervision, would authorize Bridge National Trust Bank to provide digital asset custody, stablecoin issuance and orchestration, and stablecoin reserve management directly under federal oversight. It follows similar conditional approvals granted by the OCC in December 2025 to entities like Circle, Ripple, BitGo, Fidelity Digital Assets, and Paxos, amid growing mainstream integration of digital dollars.

Source: Stripe

Stripe-Owned Stablecoin Platform Bridge Secures Approval for National Trust Bank Charter

Bridge, the stablecoin infrastructure company acquired by payments giant Stripe, has received conditional approval from the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to organize and operate as a federally chartered national trust bank. The announcement, made on February 17, 2026, marks a key milestone in Bridge's efforts to bring stablecoin services under direct federal regulatory oversight, potentially accelerating mainstream adoption of digital dollars in payments and financial services.

The OCC granted the conditional approval on February 12, 2026, following Bridge's application submitted in October 2025. This charter would position Bridge National Trust Bank, the proposed entity, to offer a range of digital asset-related services, including custody of digital assets, issuance and orchestration of stablecoins, and management of stablecoin reserves. These activities would be conducted subject to applicable laws, OCC requirements, and final approval, which depends on Bridge satisfying conditions related to governance, risk management, compliance, capital adequacy, and operational readiness under ongoing federal supervision.

Bridge, which Stripe acquired in 2025 for $1.1 billion, has been positioning itself as a leader in stablecoin infrastructure. The acquisition was part of Stripe's broader strategy to integrate blockchain-based payments into its global processing ecosystem. In a blog post announcing the approval, Bridge expressed enthusiasm about the regulatory progress, stating that, once fully approved, the charter will enable Bridge to operate stablecoin products and services under direct federal oversight, a critical step in enabling businesses everywhere to build safely on top of these exciting new rails.

The company emphasized that its existing compliance framework already aligns with the requirements of the GENIUS Act, a major stablecoin legislation signed into law in July 2025. Bridge furthered that its compliance framework already positions it to be "GENIUS ready.” The team behind Bridge is optimistic that achieving a national trust bank charter will provide customers the regulatory backbone they need to build with stablecoins confidently and at scale. This federal charter is seen as a way to offer greater clarity and security for enterprises, fintechs, crypto businesses, and financial institutions looking to incorporate stablecoins into their operations.

The approval follows similar regulatory nods from the OCC to crypto and fintech firms seeking national trust bank status. In December 2025, the agency issued conditional approvals to several prominent players, including BitGo, Fidelity Digital Assets, Paxos (for conversions from state-level trust companies), and stablecoin issuers Circle and Ripple for new national trust bank charters. These developments reflect a broader push by digital asset companies to operate under federal oversight rather than navigating a patchwork of state-level regulations.

The GENIUS Act has played a pivotal role in this trend, providing a clearer federal framework for stablecoin issuance and oversight. The law has encouraged companies to pursue OCC charters as a means to comply with emerging national standards and gain legitimacy in the eyes of institutional users. Bridge's move aligns with this momentum, potentially allowing it to scale stablecoin offerings more effectively while benefiting from the credibility of a federal banking charter.

For Stripe and Bridge, the conditional approval represents a strategic victory in bridging traditional payments with cryptocurrency. Stripe's investment in Bridge underscores the growing belief that stablecoins could become a core component of modern payment rails, offering faster, cheaper, and more programmable transactions. If final approval is granted, Bridge National Trust Bank could emerge as a key player in the evolving ecosystem of regulated digital dollars.

As the fintech and crypto sectors continue to converge, Bridge's regulatory progress highlights both the opportunities and tensions in integrating blockchain technology into the U.S. financial system. While proponents celebrate the step toward greater legitimacy and scale, critics call for measured oversight to ensure stability and consumer protection.

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