Ripple gets a final go-ahead to launch its own U.S. national trust bank

Ripple, a leading fintech firm specializing in blockchain and cryptocurrency solutions for cross-border transactions, has received final approval to establish a national trust bank in the United States. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), the federal regulator responsible for overseeing national banks, has granted approval to Ripple National Trust Bank (RNTB), as announced by Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse on the social media platform X. This marks a significant milestone as it demonstrates the increasing integration of digital assets into the conventional financial system.

Ripple had initially applied for the banking license in July 2025, with the OCC providing conditional approval in December of the same year, followed by the full approval this week. Garlinghouse has consistently advocated for the collaboration between crypto companies and traditional banks, stating, "For years, we’ve said crypto and banks work better together. Final approval for Ripple National Trust Bank is what that looks like in practice."

The RNTB will play a crucial role in managing the reserves backing Ripple's RLUSD stablecoin. These reserves represent real money and assets that provide value to the token. The bank will also serve as a trustee for these reserves and offer regulated custody services, ensuring the safe storage of digital assets for businesses utilizing crypto in various financial operations.

RLUSD, currently issued by Ripple's New York-regulated affiliate, Standard Custody & Trust Company, has experienced substantial growth since its debut in December 2024. With a market value of approximately $2.5 billion, RLUSD ranks among the top 50 stablecoins globally, backed by U.S. dollar deposits, U.S. government securities, and other cash-like assets. BNY Mellon holds the majority of these reserves.

Ripple intends to continue collaborating closely with the OCC, New York regulators, and other stakeholders as RNTB commences operations. This collaboration becomes increasingly important as the U.S. implements new stablecoin regulations under the GENIUS Act. The adoption of diversified Real World Asset (RWA) stablecoins is projected to generate yield rates ranging from 5-7% from real credit as crypto funding contracts to approximately 4%.

This development is expected to expand the total addressable market (TAM) for RWA stablecoins to $4 billion within three years.