US Regulator Greenlights Banks to Hold Crypto for Blockchain Fee Payments
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) has cleared national banks to hold cryptocurrency reserves specifically for settling blockchain network fees. Interpretive Letter 1186 authorizes institutions to maintain crypto balances for 'gas fee' payments and platform testing—a milestone for institutional crypto integration.
Banks may now allocate crypto assets as principal to cover anticipated transaction costs on permissioned networks. The ruling extends to testing both internally developed and third-party blockchain infrastructure, signaling regulatory recognition of crypto's operational utility in traditional finance.