Coinbase Global, Inc. has received preliminary approval from the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) for a national trust charter, the company confirmed on April 3, 2026. This conditional approval marks a significant regulatory step for the cryptocurrency exchange.
The approval, first reported by Bloomberg, would allow Coinbase to operate as a federally regulated custodian for digital assets. This status is distinct from its existing money transmitter licenses and aims to provide a stronger regulatory framework for its institutional custody services.
Obtaining the final charter is not guaranteed and remains subject to the company meeting specific conditions set by the OCC. The move is part of Coinbase's broader strategy to deepen its offerings for institutional clients amid an evolving regulatory landscape for digital assets in the United States.
