US Regulators Greenlight Bank Crypto Trading as Revolut and Stripe Expand Digital Asset Services
The US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) has issued guidance confirming that national banks and federal savings associations are permitted to offer crypto asset custody and execution services, including buying and selling cryptocurrencies on behalf of customers. This regulatory clarification also allows banks to outsource these services to third parties, provided strong risk management protocols are maintained. The move is expected to drive greater institutional adoption of cryptocurrencies and foster deeper integration between traditional banks and crypto-native companies, potentially increasing liquidity and expanding the banking sector’s role in digital assets. Meanwhile, UK-based fintech Revolut is preparing to launch Bitcoin payments via the Lightning Network across the UK and parts of Europe, promising faster transactions and lower fees. Stripe has also doubled its stablecoin account reach, now supporting USDC and USDB transactions for merchants in over 100 countries, further enhancing global cross-border payment efficiency. Early Stripe partners, such as Ramp, will use the system for rapid, low-cost settlements. Together, these developments signal accelerating adoption of cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, and related payment networks in global financial services, offering more options and improved efficiency for businesses and consumers worldwide.
Bullish
The OCC’s endorsement of crypto services for national banks and the expansion of custody and execution offerings will likely catalyze broader institutional adoption and bolster crypto market liquidity. This regulatory clarity reduces uncertainty and encourages mainstream financial entities to participate more actively in the digital asset sector. The initiatives by Revolut to enable Lightning Network payments and Stripe’s global roll-out of stablecoin settlement solutions further reflect the increasing integration of crypto in everyday payments and cross-border commerce. Historically, moves that improve regulatory clarity and payment infrastructure around cryptocurrencies have been met with positive market sentiment, often leading to price appreciation, particularly for assets at the center of these developments (e.g., BTC, USDC). In the short term, traders may anticipate increased inflows and volume, while in the longer term, these steps enhance the ecosystem’s maturity and resilience, supporting a broadly bullish outlook for the cryptocurrencies involved.