Stripe-Backed Stablecoin Platform Secures Path to National Trust Bank

The preliminary green light, granted on February 12, 2026, would allow the firm to operate under the proposed name Bridge National Trust Bank – pending final regulatory clearance.

What the Charter Allows

As a national trust bank, Bridge would gain the authority to custody digital assets, issue and manage stablecoins, and oversee the reserves backing those tokens. The charter provides a federal framework for stablecoin operations, aligning the company with the recently enacted GENIUS Act, which formalized national standards for U.S. stablecoin issuers.

However, the trust structure comes with limits. Bridge would not be permitted to accept insured deposits or engage in traditional lending activities. Instead, its focus would remain on digital asset infrastructure and reserve management.

Strategic Push Into Digital Dollars

For Stripe, the approval marks a major step in embedding so-called “digital dollars” directly into global payments systems. Rather than navigating a fragmented network of state-level money-transmitter licenses, the company is aiming to operate within a unified federal regulatory regime.

The move signals Stripe’s broader ambition to make stablecoins a core layer of cross-border commerce, enabling businesses to build payment products tied to regulated dollar-backed tokens.

Part of a Broader Industry Shift

Bridge is not alone. In December 2025, several crypto-native firms also received preliminary OCC approvals, including Circle, Ripple, BitGo, Fidelity Digital Assets, and Paxos. The wave of applications reflects a growing preference among major players to operate under federal oversight rather than patchwork state supervision.

At the same time, not everyone is supportive. The National Community Reinvestment Coalition and certain banking trade groups have raised concerns about systemic risk and questioned aspects of Stripe’s past compliance practices.

What Comes Next

The OCC has not yet set a timeline for final approval. Until that step is completed, Bridge National Trust Bank cannot begin full operations.

Still, the conditional approval represents a clear signal: stablecoins are moving closer to the core of the U.S. financial system, and federal regulators are increasingly shaping the rules of engagement.

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