Ripple’s Bold Play: Why a Fed Master Account & OCC Trust Charter Could Reshape Crypto Finance

Ripple’s double-barreled push for a Fed master account and an OCC trust charter isn’t just paperwork—it’s a power move. Here’s why the crypto giant’s latest play could send shockwaves through traditional finance.

Fed Access: The Ultimate Banking Hack

Snagging a Federal Reserve master account would let Ripple bypass commercial banks entirely—cutting settlement times from days to seconds. No more begging for scraps from the legacy system.

OCC Charter: A Regulatory Trojan Horse

That trust charter? It’s the golden ticket to operating nationwide without jumping through 50 different state hoops. Suddenly, every bank-looking entity becomes a potential XRP liquidity hub.

The Institutional Domino Effect

Watch corporate treasurers perk up when real-time cross-border payments meet regulatory legitimacy. The same suits who called crypto a scam will suddenly demand ‘blockchain solutions’ (but only the approved kind).

Of course, Wall Street will lobby like hell to keep the club exclusive. Because nothing terrifies old-money gatekeepers more than efficient technology that exposes their rent-seeking.

Strategic Push for Stablecoin Infrastructure: Why Does it Matter?

Ripple’s dual application strategy coincides with the rising relevance of stablecoins. Its dollar-backed RLUSD, which launched in late 2024, already reached a market cap of $468 million. Jack McDonald, head of Ripple’s stablecoin division, noted that the trust charter and master account could set a “new bar” for stablecoin compliance.

Furthermore, this regulatory push seems to align with the upcoming GENIUS Act, which is expected to mandate bank-level licensing for stablecoin issuers. Besides Ripple, another company applying for a bank charter as a trust company is Circle. To note, Anchorage Digital remains the only crypto-native company that holds a federal bank charter.

The Federal Reserve, throughout history, has resisted giving direct access to crypto firms. That stance is now being challenged legally. The pending decision in Custodia Bank v. Federal Reserve could change access to master accounts. Meanwhile, with the passage of the GENIUS Act in the U.S. Senate, stablecoins may have an opportunity to regain momentum.

Also read: Ripple Locks 400M XRP in Escrow, Will XRP Turn Positive?