All developments
OCCLicensingJune 17, 2026

OCC Clarifies How It Evaluates Bank Charter and License Applications

The OCC issued guidance clarifying the standards it uses when making decisions on filings such as charter applications, mergers, and licensing requests. This is directly relevant to crypto firms and fintechs pursuing national bank charters or trust company charters, as it signals what the OCC will and will not weigh in its approval decisions.

What to do

  • Read the OCC's clarified filing standards and assess how your institution's pending or planned charter or licensing applications may be affected by the updated criteria.

Who this affects

Bank / Credit UnionTrust CompanyCrypto ExchangeCrypto CustodianFintech / Neobank

Does this affect your program?

Pick your institution type for an instant read on whether you're in scope — then see exactly which sections of your own policies this changes.

Source

Read the official publication

This radar entry is educational and does not constitute legal advice. Summaries are AI-assisted and grounded in the linked official source; always verify against the primary source and consult qualified legal counsel for jurisdiction-specific guidance.

Related developments

CFTC

CFTC Proposes to Classify Event Contracts (Sports, Politics, Weather) as Swaps

The CFTC is proposing to explicitly include event contracts — covering sports, politics, cultural, and weather-related outcomes — within the definition of a 'swap,' which would subject them to CFTC regulation. This is directly relevant to crypto and fintech firms operating prediction markets or offering event-based contracts, as such platforms could face new registration, reporting, and compliance obligations if the rule is finalized. The proposal creates a potential conflict with the companion interim final rule excluding casino-style gambling, making the precise boundaries between included and excluded products a critical compliance question.

CFTC

CFTC Confirms Casino-Style Gambling Products Are Not Swaps

The CFTC has adopted an interim final rule formally codifying that casino-style gambling products — including sportsbook wagers and casino games — are excluded from the regulatory definition of a 'swap.' This matters to crypto and fintech compliance officers because some prediction market and betting platforms built on blockchain infrastructure have faced uncertainty about whether their products could be classified as swaps subject to CFTC oversight. This rule provides clearer regulatory boundaries for firms offering or integrating such products.

OCC

OCC Comptroller Speaks on Debanking Report Findings

Comptroller Gould publicly discussed findings from the OCC's supervisory review of debanking practices at the largest national banks, signaling heightened regulatory attention to how banks terminate or restrict customer accounts. For crypto firms, fintechs, and MSBs that have experienced account closures, this signals potential policy and supervisory pressure on banks to justify debanking decisions. Compliance officers at banks should expect greater scrutiny of their account-closure policies and documentation.

OCC

OCC Publishes Report on Debanking Practices at the Nine Largest National Banks

The OCC released a formal report detailing its supervisory findings on how the nine largest national banks it oversees — including JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Citibank, and others — have conducted debanking activities, a practice that has disproportionately affected crypto firms, MSBs, and fintechs. This report is a significant regulatory signal that the OCC is scrutinizing blanket or poorly justified account terminations and may indicate forthcoming supervisory guidance or expectations. Crypto and fintech compliance officers should review the findings to understand the regulatory landscape around banking access and use it to engage their banking partners.

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