Quick Breakdown
- Laser Digital has applied for an OCC national trust bank charter to consolidate US crypto operations under federal regulation.
- A more favourable regulatory tone in Washington is driving renewed interest in banking licences from crypto, fintech, and corporate firms.
- OCC charter applications surged in 2025, nearly matching the combined total of the prior four years.
Nomura-backed crypto firm Laser Digital has applied for a US banking licence as it looks to move more of its digital asset operations into the regulated financial system.
The company filed an application on Tuesday with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), seeking a national trust bank charter. If approved, the licence would allow Laser Digital to operate under a single federal framework, instead of securing custody approvals on a state-by-state basis.
Laser Digital Americas Group Holdings Inc. has filed a de novo application to the U.S. OCC to form Laser Digital National Trust Bank (LDNTB)
Press Release: https://t.co/PoiJ4i0MfN
Financial Times: https://t.co/gKjf31ajRH
— Laser Digital (@LaserDigital_) January 28, 2026
Laser Digital, which was spun out of Japanese investment bank Nomura in 2022, plans to offer spot trading for digital assets under the proposed structure. The firm does not intend to accept customer deposits, the report said.
OCC charter applications gain momentum under the Trump administration
Laser Digital’s move comes as crypto and fintech firms test a more accommodating regulatory environment in Washington under President Donald Trump. Charter applications have picked up as companies look to bring payments, custody, and stablecoin services under federal oversight.
Laser Digital unveiled its upgraded Bitcoin Diversified Yield Fund SP (BDYF), a tokenized, yield-focused investment product targeting institutional and accredited investors.
Laser Digital is not alone. Earlier this month, Trump-linked World Liberty Financial said its subsidiary had applied for a national trust bank charter focused on stablecoin operations. In Europe, fintech giant Revolut has also shifted strategy, abandoning plans to acquire a US lender in favour of applying for a standalone banking licence.
Broader push extends beyond crypto and fintech
The regulatory shift is not limited to digital asset firms. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) recently approved deposit insurance applications from Ford and General Motors, paving the way for the automakers to establish industrial banks in Utah.
Meanwhile, the OCC itself is under new leadership, with Jonathan V. Gould sworn in as Comptroller of the Currency in July 2025. Law firm Freshfields reported that the OCC received 14 de novo applications for limited-purpose national trust banks in 2025, nearly matching the total from the previous four years combined.
If you would like to read more articles like this, visit DeFi Planet and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and CoinMarketCap Community.
Take control of your crypto portfolio with MARKETS PRO, DeFi Planet’s suite of analytics tools.”
