Blockchain infrastructure provider Zerohash has applied for a United States national trust bank charter with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), aiming to operate as a federally regulated trust bank and expand its services under the newly established GENIUS Act framework.
The company announced that securing the charter would enable it to "expand its service offerings under a federal framework, including those activities that fall under the GENIUS Act." Zerohash, which serves clients like Morgan Stanley and Franklin Templeton, offers crypto trading, custody, and stablecoin payment infrastructure to financial institutions.
“Applying for a National Trust Bank Charter is a natural next step in offering robust global licensing coverage and continuing to expand our product offering,” said Stephen Gardner, Zerohash's Chief Legal and Compliance Officer.
According to the OCC website, Zerohash filed its application in February, alongside other applicants such as Morgan Stanley and PAYO Digital Bank.国家信托银行章程允许公司提供联邦监管的托管和资产保管服务。
此举使 Zerohash 跻身越来越多寻求这一特定许可的加密货币公司之列。 Since the passage of the GENIUS Act in July, applications have surged as companies seek a federal framework to operate stablecoin and digital asset custody services.
The OCC has already granted conditional approval for similar charters to several prominent crypto companies, including Paxos, Circle, and Fidelity Digital Assets. However, the trend has drawn scrutiny from some lawmakers concerned about the regulatory implications and the backgrounds of certain applicants.
Zerohash, founded in 2017, stated that the potential charter approval would mark a significant milestone in its growth and its ability to serve institutional clients within a clear federal regulatory perimeter.