Coinbase just got a conditional green light from the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency for a national trust charter. This is a big move toward becoming a federally regulated crypto custodian.

The approval isn’t final yet. Coinbase must meet strict compliance, security, and risk management requirements before getting the full charter. If approved, it can hold digital assets for clients but can’t take deposits or issue loans.

This aligns with Coinbase’s push to reduce reliance on volatile trading fees and expand into steady revenue streams like custody. It already holds bitcoin for several U.S. ETFs, and a federal charter could unlock even more institutional trust.

With other firms like Ripple and EDX Markets also seeking similar approvals, demand for regulated custody is rising as big investors enter crypto. For the market, this signals growing legitimacy and could boost confidence in long-term crypto adoption.

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