Bridge, the stablecoin infrastructure unit acquired by payments company Stripe, has received conditional approval from the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to establish a national trust bank, according to Reuters.
The preliminary authorization would allow Bridge to operate under a federally chartered trust structure if it obtains final approval from the regulator.
OCC conditional approval
The OCC granted Bridge conditional approval to organize a national trust bank. The approval is not final and requires the company to satisfy supervisory conditions before the charter becomes effective.
Services contemplated under the charter
If Bridge receives final authorization, it would be permitted to offer digital asset custody, stablecoin issuance and orchestration, and stablecoin reserve management under federal oversight.
Bridge and Stripe background
Stripe acquired Bridge in October 2024 in a transaction reportedly valued at approximately $1.1 billion, Reuters reported. Bridge provides infrastructure designed to support stablecoin-based payments and digital asset settlement.
Broader trust charter trend
Other digital asset firms, including Ripple and Circle, received similar preliminary approvals from the OCC in December, Reuters reported. The report added that World Liberty Financial said in January that its subsidiary had filed an application to establish a trust bank focused on stablecoin operations.
The OCC’s conditional approval for Bridge does not constitute final authorization, and the charter becomes effective only after all required conditions are met.
