MoonPay Scores NY Trust Charter - Major US Expansion Now Underway

MoonPay just bulldozed through regulatory barriers with a New York trust charter approval.

Gateway to American Dominance

The crypto payments infrastructure giant now holds the golden ticket to expand operations across all 50 states. New York's notoriously tough regulatory environment just became MoonPay's competitive moat.

Trust Charter Changes Everything

This isn't just another license—it's the master key to institutional custody and digital asset services nationwide. Traditional finance gatekeepers are watching their moats evaporate as crypto infrastructure matures.

Wall Street's Newest Neighbor

MoonPay's Manhattan headquarters just became significantly more valuable. The company can now offer regulated custody services to institutions and wealthy individuals—because apparently regular banks weren't moving fast enough for crypto's elite.

Another fintech unicorn proves that playing by regulators' rules while building better technology beats waiting for legacy systems to catch up. Wall Street's lunch? Being eaten—one charter at a time.

Key Highlights

• MoonPay wins a New York Trust Charter, enabling regulated custody and OTC trading.
• It now holds both a BitLicense and Trust Charter — a rarity in the crypto sector.
• Approval follows its Arkham fiat-integration deal and continued global licensing expansion.

MoonPay, a financial technology company involved in the transfer of cryptocurrency, has secured one of the most difficult regulatory approvals in the American financial system: a New York Limited Purpose Trust Charter, issued by the New York State Department of Financial Services (NYDFS). 

The authorization, confirmed today, allows the company to offer crypto custody and over-the-counter (OTC) trading services in New York, a state long regarded as the toughest jurisdiction for digital-asset firms.

What the New Charter Means

MoonPay said its new status enables the operation of MoonPay Trust Company, allowing it to offer institutional-grade digital-asset custody, NYDFS-supervised OTC trading, and deeper integration with financial institutions seeking regulated crypto infrastructure.

🗽 MoonPay is now authorized by NYDFS to operate MoonPay Trust Company in New York!

🍎 this expanded regulatory footprint unlocks digital asset custody and OTC trading for our financial infrastructure

🚀 NY BitLicense + Trust Charter = a new era of compliant innovation pic.twitter.com/LtTuZuxY1k

MoonPay received a BitLicense in June 2025 to serve users nationwide, and the new trust charter further boosts its credibility with banks, fintechs, and other institutions. MoonPay’s choice to pursue New York’s stricter state-level review, rather than a federal OCC charter, sets it apart, given NYDFS’ reputation for intensive oversight and detailed due-diligence requirements.

“Receiving our New York Trust Charter reflects our commitment to meeting the highest standards of compliance, security, and governance,” said CEO Ivan Soto-Wright.

Historic day. MoonPay is proud to be a NYDFS Trust Charter holder. We’re giving the best builders in crypto the most regulated, reliable payments and stablecoin infrastructure on earth. https://t.co/W9L6DL0nq5

Why It Matters for the U.S. Crypto Landscape

New York’s regime remains the toughest U.S. digital-asset framework, with strict AML and cybersecurity rules plus clear custody, capital, and governance requirements recognized by traditional financial institutions. 

MoonPay’s ability to meet those thresholds signals its shift toward becoming a full-stack, institution-focused infrastructure provider rather than just a retail on-ramp. The approval also comes as U.S. regulators debate how much oversight crypto firms should face at the federal level.

MoonPay’s Recent Moves

The trust charter follows a month of expansion for MoonPay, including its November 22 partnership with Arkham Exchange to power fiat on- and off-ramps. 

The deal lets Arkham users move between cash and crypto through MoonPay using cards, bank transfers, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. The integration is designed to streamline the trading flow for KYC-verified users and reduce friction in converting fiat to digital assets.

What Comes Next

With its BitLicense and new trust charter, MoonPay is now positioned to pursue deeper institutional partnerships and expand its role in U.S. crypto infrastructure. 

New York’s trust charter is one of the hardest gates in the crypto industry, and clearing it signals that MoonPay intends to compete in the regulated, institutional tier of the market, not just the retail one.

Also read: Zengo and MoonPay Expand Partnership to Boost Crypto Access