Crypto Firms Seek US Banking Charters Following GENIUS Act Passage

Zerohash has officially joined a growing list of crypto-native firms applying for a national banking charter in the United States. This surge in applications follows the passage of the GENIUS Act in July, which established a clearer regulatory pathway for digital asset integration into the traditional financial system. Major industry players, including Circle, Ripple, Bridge, and Stripe, have already secured conditional approvals from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). By obtaining these charters, crypto firms aim to reduce their reliance on intermediary banks and gain direct access to federal payment systems. This movement signals a significant step toward institutional maturity and greater legitimacy for the digital asset sector. Market analysts view this trend as bullish, as it lowers operational risks and strengthens the regulatory standing of instruments like USDC and XRP.