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World Liberty Financial Gets Conditional Approval for National Trust Bank

economy-finance · 2026-08-16

On Friday, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) granted conditional approval to World Liberty Financial, which is supported by President Donald Trump, to create a national trust bank named World Liberty Trust Company. This endorsement paves the way for potential internal operations concerning its USD1 stablecoin, which debuted in March 2025 and boasts a market capitalization of $4 billion. Before commencing operations, the company is required to secure $20 million in funding, appoint an internal audit manager, and successfully complete a final examination. While national trust banks are prohibited from accepting deposits or issuing loans, they can offer asset custody and payment services. Senator Elizabeth Warren condemned the approval as a conflict of interest, whereas World Liberty's president defended the decision. Since 2025, the OCC has received 40 applications for bank charters.

Key facts

  • World Liberty Financial received conditional approval from the OCC to establish a national trust bank.
  • The approval is preliminary; the company must meet regulatory requirements and pass a final examination.
  • The proposed bank would not accept deposits or make loans but can provide custody, settlement, and other financial services.
  • World Liberty aims to bring its USD1 stablecoin operations in-house, currently relying on BitGo.
  • USD1 has a market capitalization of roughly $4 billion since launching in March 2025.
  • The OCC requires at least $20 million in capital and a qualified internal audit manager.
  • Senator Elizabeth Warren called it an unprecedented conflict of interest and plans to introduce legislation.
  • The OCC has received 40 bank charter applications since 2025, with Ripple and Circle also receiving preliminary approval.

Entities

Institutions

  • World Liberty Financial
  • Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC)
  • World Liberty Trust Company
  • BitGo
  • CoinMarketCap
  • Ripple
  • Circle
  • NFT Plazas

Locations

  • United States

Sources