Ripple’s National Trust Bank Charter on Fast-Track—If the Fed Plays Ball, Claims Analyst

Ripple’s bid for a national trust bank charter just got a potential turbocharge—but only if the Federal Reserve decides to stop dragging its feet.

Why the Fed holds the keys

The blockchain giant’s regulatory fate hinges on whether the Fed views crypto as a threat or an inevitability. No pressure, guys.

Wall Street’s worst-kept secret

Banking licenses for crypto firms remain the ultimate ‘hurry up and wait’ game—where ‘wait’ means endless lobbying and ‘hurry up’ means absolutely nothing.

One analyst’s take: ‘This could happen fast… or take forever’

Translation: The Fed moves at the speed of a bored sloth unless there’s political capital to spend. And crypto’s lobbyists aren’t exactly drowning in spare change these days.

Bottom line: Ripple’s charter dreams live or die by bureaucratic whim—because nothing says ‘financial innovation’ like waiting for permission slips from people who still fax their memos.

The U.S. banking system might be going through one of its biggest changes in years without much public attention. The EGRPRA review (Economic Growth and Regulatory Paperwork Reduction Act), which takes place only once every decade, is now underway and will continue until July 2026.

This review allows top financial regulators, the OCC, Federal Reserve, and FDIC, to update banking laws without needing Congress to act. It’s a rare opportunity to redefine what a bank is and how financial services work in a digital world.

EGRPRA Review May Quietly Reshape U.S. Finance

At the center of this potential shift is Ripple. The company has applied for a national trust bank charter, which WOULD allow it to operate in a completely different way from traditional banks.

Instead of taking deposits or offering loans, Ripple’s trust would:

• Manage stablecoin reserves
  
• Settle tokenized assets
  
• Run smart contracts on blockchain networks
  

Legal expert Mr. Man referred to this review as a “legal bypass,” meaning regulators can make significant changes to financial rules without the usual political process.

Ripple’s Application and the Fed’s Fast-Track Clause

Mr. Man points to Section 12 CFR § 262.3, which governs how the Fed processes such applications. Typically, once Ripple’s application is made public, there’s a 90-day window for review. 

However, the Fed can bypass this entirely if it deems the application critical to system stability or liquidity. That clause could give Ripple an express lane to approval if its services are seen as essential for the evolving tokenized economy.

Mr. Man adds that Ripple’s success would mark a turning point in redefining legal personhood in the financial system, from paper charters to programmable code.

Can Ripple Get Fast-Tracked?

According to Federal Reserve regulations under 12 CFR § 262.3, once Ripple’s application is made public, a formal 90-day window opens for review and public comment. During this time, the Fed can approve, reject, or require the application to be resubmitted. 

However, there’s a lesser-known clause that gives the Board the power to waive these procedures entirely if “immediate action is necessary to prevent failure” or if there is an emergency. 

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This clause gives regulators the flexibility to fast-track Ripple’s approval if they consider it critical to liquidity, interoperability, or systemic financial stability.

What Could This Mean by 2026?

By the time the EGRPRA review ends in 2026, the U.S. may have quietly created space for a new type of financial institution, programmable, blockchain-based entities that operate under traditional regulation but with entirely digital tools.

Ripple’s trust bank could be one of the first, handling smart contracts and stablecoins just like banks handle checks and wires today.

A New Financial Framework, Built in Plain Sight

This shift won’t come with headlines or big announcements. But analysts believe it could mark the beginning of a financial system where code, tokens, and blockchains operate side by side with traditional finance all legally approved under U.S. law.

Ripple may just be the first to cross that line.

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