Zerohash Joins National Trust Bank Charter Race with Latest Application

Zerohash, a blockchain infrastructure provider, has applied for a National Trust Bank Charter with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, joining a growing list of crypto firms seeking federal licensing. Stephen Gardner, the Chief Legal and Compliance Officer at Zerohash, noted that applying for a charter was a logical progression for the company.

A national bank trust charter permits an institution to operate as a trust bank nationwide and enables fiduciary activities, asset custody, and settlement services. Institutions with this charter cannot take deposits or issue loans, and they are not covered by FDIC insurance.

If approved, Zerohash says the charter would allow it to expand its range of services within a federal framework. Several digital asset firms have taken similar steps: Crypto.com received conditional OCC approval in late February, Ripple, Circle, Paxos, and Fidelity secured similar approvals in 2025, and BitGo received full OCC approval in December 2025.

United States

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