In brief
- The OCC confirmed that national banks may hold and spend crypto, including to pay blockchain network fees tied to approved banking activities.
- Banks are also allowed to hold digital assets for testing crypto-related platforms, reversing stricter Biden-era restrictions.
- The policy advances the Trump administration’s push to let major banks move more traditional functions on-chain.
A key banking regulator within the Treasury Department has officially greenlit the ability for national banks to hold and spend cryptocurrency in certain cases.
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) confirmed in an interpretive letter Tuesday that major banks are officially permitted to keep crypto on their balance sheets to pay…
Jan 12 2026
