Coinbase’s Regulatory Path Clears as OCC Chief Demands Equal Charter Treatment for Crypto Firms

In a landmark policy statement at the Blockchain Association Policy Summit, Acting Comptroller of the Currency Jonathan Gould has publicly advocated for equal regulatory treatment between cryptocurrency firms and traditional financial institutions when applying for national trust bank charters. This development, dated December 9, 2025, signals a pivotal shift in the U.S. banking regulatory landscape, directly impacting major crypto exchanges like Coinbase that have long sought federal banking charters to legitimize and expand their service offerings. Gould's firm stance against imposing stricter scrutiny on crypto firms marks a significant victory for the industry, challenging the narrative that digital assets inherently warrant differential or more restrictive oversight. By pushing back against calls for heightened barriers, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) is effectively paving a clearer, more equitable path for compliant crypto-native companies to integrate into the federal banking system. For Coinbase, which has consistently positioned itself as a regulated and compliant leader, this regulatory clarity could accelerate its ambitions to operate with a national trust charter, potentially unlocking new banking-related services, enhancing customer trust, and solidifying its competitive edge. The move underscores a growing recognition within key U.S. regulatory bodies that well-managed cryptocurrency enterprises deserve parity, fostering an environment where innovation and consumer protection are not mutually exclusive. This policy direction is expected to reduce operational uncertainty, lower compliance costs for qualifying firms, and attract further institutional investment into the crypto sector, with established players like Coinbase poised to be among the primary beneficiaries of this regulatory normalization.

OCC Chief Advocates Equal Charter Treatment for Crypto Firms

The U.S. banking regulator is pushing back against calls for stricter scrutiny of cryptocurrency firms seeking federal charters. Comptroller of the Currency Jonathan Gould asserted at the Blockchain Association Policy Summit that digital asset companies deserve parity with traditional financial institutions when applying for national trust bank charters.

"There is simply no justification for considering digital assets differently," Gould stated, highlighting that electronic custody services—central to crypto business models—have been bank mainstays for decades. The OCC has received 14 new bank applications this year, including multiple from digital asset and fintech firms.

Currently only two crypto-native companies, Anchorage Digital and Erebor, hold national trust bank charters. Major players like Coinbase, Ripple and Circle are now seeking federal oversight to expand services under clearer regulatory frameworks.

PNC Partners with Coinbase to Enable Bitcoin Trading for Wealthy Clients

PNC Financial Services Group has become the first major U.S. bank to integrate Bitcoin trading directly into its digital platform. High-net-worth clients of PNC Private Bank can now buy, hold, and sell Bitcoin through their investment accounts, powered by Coinbase's Crypto-as-a-Service infrastructure.

The collaboration, initially announced in July, marks a strategic move to retain clients as cryptocurrency adoption grows. Coinbase Institutional's co-CEO BRETT Tejpaul emphasized the seamless integration of trading, custody, and security features.

PNC plans to expand crypto access to institutional clients including nonprofits and foundations in 2026. The bank's adoption reflects accelerating institutional interest in digital assets as a Core component of wealth management services.