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

OCC

OCC Proposes BSA/AML and Sanctions Rules for Payment Stablecoin Issuers

The OCC, in coordination with FinCEN and OFAC, has proposed regulations implementing BSA/AML and sanctions compliance requirements specifically for permitted payment stablecoin issuers under its jurisdiction, as required by the GENIUS Act. This is a landmark proposal that will establish formal AML program, KYC, and sanctions screening obligations for federally supervised stablecoin issuers. Compliance officers at stablecoin issuers and banks exploring stablecoin activities should treat this as a top-priority rulemaking.

SEC

SEC & CFTC Seek Comment on Clearer Rules for Innovative Swap Products

This is the SEC-side publication of the joint CFTC/SEC request for comment on clarifying the definitions of 'swap' and 'security-based swap' for novel financial products, including alternative compliance approaches. Digital asset products that straddle the SEC/CFTC boundary — such as crypto perpetuals or tokenized derivatives — are directly implicated. Clearer lines could significantly affect how crypto firms register and comply.

CFTC

CFTC & SEC Ask How to Clarify 'Swap' Definition for Innovative Products

The CFTC and SEC are seeking comment on how to draw clearer regulatory lines between swaps and security-based swaps, particularly for innovative products that may implicate both agencies' jurisdiction. This is directly relevant to crypto firms offering derivative or hybrid digital asset products that could be classified as swaps or securities. The request also covers alternative compliance pathways, which could benefit crypto-native firms.

OCC

OCC Proposes BSA/AML and Sanctions Rules for Stablecoin Issuers Under GENIUS Act

The OCC has issued a proposed rulemaking to establish Bank Secrecy Act and sanctions compliance requirements specifically for OCC-supervised permitted payment stablecoin issuers (PPSIs), as mandated by the newly enacted GENIUS Act. This is a landmark development because it creates a dedicated AML/CFT and sanctions compliance framework for federally supervised stablecoin issuers for the first time. Any firm considering or currently operating as a payment stablecoin issuer under OCC oversight must prepare to meet these new BSA and OFAC compliance standards.

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