US Allows National Banks to Intermediate Crypto Transactions

• Lyla Velez
• December 10, 2025
• Policy
• 0 Comments

Main Content

The U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has announced that national banks can act as intermediaries for crypto transactions. This decision, documented in OCC Interpretive Letter 1188, was released on occ.gov and broadens existing banking activities to include crypto brokerage services.

This move enables greater flexibility for national banks, aligning cryptocurrency transactions with existing banking services. It facilitates institutional participation in crypto markets, potentially impacting liquidity and offering new profit avenues for banks.

The OCC’s recent interpretive letter clarifies that banks may work as riskless principals for crypto transactions without holding assets. This is reinforced by the OCC’s news release on regulatory updates. This extends the OCC’s prior permissions, ensuring such activities remain within the business of banking if conducted safely. This significant update underscores the evolving role of national banks in the expanding digital asset ecosystem.

The decision by the OCC mandates banks to manage associated risks and comply with applicable laws while conducting crypto transactions. Bitcoin and Ethereum are likely impacted due to their liquidity, although the OCC’s guidance applies to all high-demand crypto-assets, opening doors for institutional players in digital currencies.

The financial and regulatory landscape is being altered as banks incorporate crypto brokerage capabilities, potentially spurring technological advancements while enhancing market efficiency and customer reach. Banks now stand to capitalize on the growing crypto economy through brokerage services under established regulations.

Experts anticipate banks adopting this capability may influence institutional trust in cryptocurrencies, bringing more structured players into the market. The OCC notes that such activities will be monitored for safety and soundness, aligning with its supervisory framework for traditional banking operations.

“The OCC confirmed permissible bank activities related to … crypto‑asset transactions and clarified that these may include acting as riskless principal between customers, provided risks are managed and activities comply with applicable law.” OCC News Release NR‑OCC‑2025‑108