The American Currency Controller (OCS) said that banks under its supervision are allowed to engage in activities related to cryptography on behalf of customers.
This includes trading of digital assets held in detention and outsourcing of certain functions to third -party suppliers. In a letter dated May 7, 2025, the OCC said that national banks and federal savings associations can buy and sell cryptocurrencies as indicated by customers, provided that assets are already detained. The regulator has also confirmed that institutions can delegate services related to cryptography such as custody and execution to external companies, as long as these provisions comply with existing banking laws and risk management standards.
According to a video declaration published on the same day, the OUS officials noted that banks can also offer auxiliary childcare services, such as the maintenance of files, the processing of tax reports and the supply of subgardian arrangements. However, all third -party commitments must be subject to the established surveillance executives of the OCS to manage the risks.
Evolution of the regulatory position
Confirmation follows a change in previous policy from the OC to March, when it authorized banks to participate in certain digital asset activities. These include the care of cryptocurrencies, commitment with certain functions related to stable and participation in distributed registers networks.
Recent declarations of the West have been interpreted by some in the digital asset sector as indicating a broader evolution towards the integration of cryptocurrencies into traditional financial systems. Representatives of the Blockchain Starkware infrastructure provider have noted that letters reflect a change in tone in the OC and can reduce regulatory uncertainty for banks that plan to participate in cryptographic services. They suggested that the explicit approval of the outsourcing of permissible cryptographic activities of a bank could benefit from the providable service providers operating in the cryptographic space.
A crypto exchange Coinbase representative has also commented on the OCC approach, describing it as being aligned with a commitment to supervision standards and regulatory clarity. The OCC works as an independent agency within the American Treasury Department, responsible for supervising national banks and federal branches of foreign banking institutions.
