Stripe’s Stablecoin Unit Bridge Applies for National Trust Bank Charter

Bridge, Stripe’s stablecoin division, has formally applied for a national trust bank charter with the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. Co-founder Zach Abrams announced the MOVE on X, framing it as a strategic step toward institutionalizing stablecoins as regulated financial infrastructure.

The charter WOULD authorize Bridge to manage reserves, provide custody services, and operate under federal banking supervision—bypassing fragmented state-level licensing. Abrams cited the recently enacted GENIUS Act as legal groundwork, emphasizing stablecoins’ role in "tokenizing trillions of dollars" of traditional assets.

Approval would place Bridge alongside chartered crypto-native firms like Paxos and Anchorage Digital. Stripe completed its acquisition of Bridge in February, signaling deeper integration of stablecoins into mainstream payments. The fintech giant already unveiled stablecoin-powered treasury tools in May.

The OCC has yet to comment on the pending application, which typically faces months of review. This development underscores growing institutional momentum for compliant digital asset rails.