Circle, BitGo, and Others Eye Bank Charters in US

With support from Trump’s White House and easing regulations, firms like Circle and BitGo are pursuing becoming full-fledged financial institutions.

Reports indicate a new wave of crypto companies knocking on the once-closed doors of the American banking system. This time, someone is listening.

Crypto Firms Seek Bank Charters as Wall Street’s Doors Reopen

After years of being sidelined, crypto companies are coming back, this time through the front door of the US banking system.

Citing sources familiar with the matter, the Wall Street Journal revealed that several major players, including Circle and BitGo, are preparing to apply for bank charters or financial licenses.

Traditional banks are also responding to the shift. US Bancorp is re-launching its crypto custody program via NYDIG, while Bank of America (BofA) said it would issue its stablecoin once the legal framework is in place.

Even global giants are watching closely. A consortium including Deutsche Bank and Standard Chartered is evaluating how to expand crypto operations into the US.

While details remain scarce, the interest signals that crypto is no longer just a niche but a competitive frontier.

These firms reportedly aim to operate with the same legitimacy and access as traditional lenders. This includes holding deposits, issuing loans, and launching stablecoins under regulatory supervision.

The timing is not random. A sharp pivot in federal policy, driven by President Trump’s pledge to make the US a Bitcoin superpower, has reopened regulatory pathways once shut after the FTX collapse.

In parallel, Congress is advancing stablecoin legislation requiring issuers to secure federal or state licenses.

The push for bank status comes amid a broader effort to legitimize crypto within US finance. Earlier this year, regulators rolled back key restrictions. Among them, the SEC’s controversial SAB 121, which had blocked banks from holding crypto on behalf of clients.

Meanwhile, Federal Reserve (Fed) Chair Jerome Powell affirmed that banks could serve crypto customers provided proper risk management strategies exist.

In another regulatory green light, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) clarified that banks can offer stablecoin and custody services. However, this is provided they comply with established banking rules.

These signals have emboldened crypto firms previously kept at arm’s length. Anchorage Digital, the only US crypto-native firm with a federal bank charter, says the regulatory lift is massive but worth it.

“It hasn’t been easy… the whole gamut of regulatory and compliance obligations that banks have can be intertwined with the crypto industry,” Anchorage CEO Nathan McCauley reportedly admitted.

McCauley cited tens of millions in compliance costs. Nevertheless, Anchorage has since collaborated with BlackRock, Cantor Fitzgerald, and Copper for high-profile custody and lending programs.

BitGo, which will reportedly custody reserves for Trump-linked stablecoin USD1, is nearing a bank charter application.

Circle, the issuer of USDC, is also pursuing licenses while fending off competition, just like Tether. This is a traditional finance (TradFi) venture into stablecoins.

The firm delayed its IPO this month, citing market turmoil and financial uncertainty. However, insiders say regulatory clarity remains a top priority.

Firms like Coinbase and Paxos are exploring similar routes, considering industrial banks or trust charters to expand their financial offerings legally.

At the policy level, venture firm a16z has called on the SEC to modernize crypto custody rules for investment firms, reflecting the industry’s hunger for clarity and parity.