Stablecoin infrastructure provider Bridge, a subsidiary of payment giant Stripe, has received preliminary approval from the US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to set up a national settlement bank. This pivotal development paves the way for digital asset services to be offered under direct federal oversight, marking a significant step in mainstreaming blockchain-powered financial infrastructure.
Bridge Embarks on Its Federal Banking Path
After being acquired by Stripe at the end of 2024, Bridge quickly made a name for itself in the fintech world with its stablecoin-based payment solutions. Stripe’s aim with the acquisition was clear: to seamlessly incorporate stablecoin transactions into its global financial platform. Thanks to the OCC’s provisional green light, Bridge is now positioned to offer digital asset custody, stablecoin reserve management, and stablecoin issuance across the United States. Crucially, the company can now operate nationwide without having to seek separate licenses in each state.
OCC Approval Brings New Regulatory Landscape
The OCC’s preliminary approval comes with a host of regulatory conditions for Bridge. Among the chief requirements are the establishment of robust anti-money laundering policies and the maintenance of substantial capital reserves. The approval will only become definitive once Bridge has met all these regulatory obligations, underscoring the tight federal scrutiny that will frame its operations.
Bridge notes that it has aligned its compliance framework with the GENIUS Act, a law passed last year to give the US clearer rules for digital assets. Under the requirements of this act, traditional financial institutions and new digital pioneers alike must adhere to federal standards when operating with tokenized assets, heralding a more structured environment for innovators and incumbents.
Stablecoin Firms Pursue Federal Status
A growing number of digital asset companies have recently approached US regulators in pursuit of national settlement bank status. By the close of 2025, major players such as Circle, BitGo, Ripple, Paxos, and Fidelity Digital Assets had also secured provisional approval from the OCC. This trend is widely interpreted as a move by federal regulators to bring stablecoin infrastructure more squarely within conventional banking rules and oversight structures.
With its new status, Bridge can now serve institutional clients with digital dollar transactions held to the same supervisory standards as traditional banking. The company’s structure is designed to handle custody, issuance, reserve management, and operational integration for stablecoin services, targeting a seamless blend of security, transparency, and efficiency.
Bridge underlined in a public statement that its stablecoin products and services would be delivered under federal supervision, noting that custody, issuance, reserve management, and operational processes would all be directly regulated.
Industry sources emphasize that moves to establish national settlement banks are making stablecoin infrastructure more transparent and accessible. Recent developments, such as ING Deutschland’s rollout of crypto-based investment products for retail clients in Germany, show that the boundaries between traditional banking and digital finance are growing increasingly permeable as innovation picks up pace.
