OCC Allows U.S. Banks to Use Crypto for Gas Fees

• Lyla Velez
• November 19, 2025
• Policy
• 0 Comments

The U.S. banking system takes a crucial step forward with clear guidelines for the integration of crypto assets, impacting mainstream financial operations and emphasizing potential growth in Ethereum usage.

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency clarified that U.S. banks are allowed to hold crypto assets, primarily ETH, to pay blockchain network gas fees. Announced on November 19, 2025, this marks a significant policy shift. Comptroller Jonathan Gould stated:

“The need for banks to pay network fees to facilitate otherwise permissible crypto-asset activities and to hold, as principal, amounts of crypto-assets on balance sheet necessary to pay network fees for which the bank anticipates a reasonably foreseeable need is permissible for the bank.” – OCC Interpretive Letter No. 1186

Banks like JPMorgan have started internal assessments of crypto management strategies. The existing regulatory framework was created under the GENIUS Act, enacted in January 2025.

Reactions from the Federal Reserve, FDIC, and Treasury Department highlight support for digital assets, with pending stablecoin rules expected in early 2026. CEO insights, such as those from Coinbase Canada, call for further clarification on custody frameworks to strengthen market integrity. The positive sentiment from the crypto community is evident, with key industry figures expressing enthusiasm for the integration of banks into blockchain ecosystems.

The announcement has already affected Ethereum specifically, showing a 12% increase in staked ETH, while the total value locked in Ethereum DeFi rose by 5.3%. General market reception has been positive, driving institutional interest and prompting increased GitHub activity related to gas optimization. These developments suggest a potential increase in institutional demand for ETH and other Layer 1 assets, indicating modernization of financial operations through enhanced blockchain participation. Regulatory changes are monitored closely by the SEC, which aims to mitigate risks to the financial system, ensuring consistent framework adaptations.