Crypto Firm Zerohash is Seeking US National Trust Bank Charter
Digital asset infrastructure firm Zero Hash has applied for a national trust bank charter with the OCC to expand custody and settlement services.Summary
Zero Hash, a Chicago-based digital asset infrastructure firm that provides crypto infrastructure for banks, brokerages, and fintech platforms like Kalshi and BlackRock, has applied to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) for a national trust bank charter. If approved, the proposed entity, with Zero Hash Chief Legal Officer Stephen Gardner as the proposed CEO, would offer custody for digital assets, fiat currency, and other assets, alongside custodial staking, transfer agent services, and stablecoin management. This move places Zerohash among several crypto firms seeking federal trust charters, following the OCC's conditional approvals granted to Circle, Ripple, BitGo, Fidelity Digital Assets, and Paxos in December. Trust banks, unlike traditional banks, cannot take deposits or issue loans but specialize in asset custody. Separately, the article notes that Kraken recently secured a Federal Reserve master account, allowing its banking arm direct settlement access via Fedwire.
(Source：Bitcoin Magazine)