OCCLicensingAugust 11, 2026

OCC Pushes to Revive De Novo Bank Chartering — Crypto Firms Take Note

The OCC is actively prioritizing the revival of de novo bank chartering and commends the FDIC for similar efforts, signaling a more welcoming regulatory environment for new bank applicants. For crypto firms and fintechs that have explored obtaining a national bank or trust charter, this renewed focus may lower barriers and accelerate application review timelines.

What to do

If your firm has considered pursuing a national bank charter or trust charter, revisit feasibility now and engage OCC licensing staff to understand updated de novo application expectations.

Who this affects

Crypto ExchangeCrypto CustodianFintech / NeobankTrust CompanyMoney Services Business

Does this affect your program?

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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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