Ripple has achieved a major regulatory milestone in the United States after receiving conditional approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to establish the Ripple National Trust Bank.
This development places Ripple among a small group of original cryptocurrency companies moving directly into federally supervised financial infrastructure, which could reshape how stablecoins and blockchain-based payments interact with the traditional banking system.
Key Points:
* Ripple has received conditional approval from the OCC to form the Ripple National Trust Bank.
* This move places the RLUSD (Ripple's stablecoin) under both federal regulatory oversight and government supervision.
* XRP's price remains confined to a defined range despite the regulatory achievement.
* Traders seem to be waiting for follow-up developments before repricing XRP.
Brad Garlinghouse, the CEO of Ripple, publicly confirmed the announcement, describing the approval as a breakthrough moment not just for Ripple but for the broader cryptocurrency industry. According to Garlinghouse, the decision places Ripple's operations under both federal oversight from the OCC and state supervision from the New York Department of Financial Services, setting a higher regulatory standard for stablecoin issuers operating in the United States.
A new framework for stablecoins in the United States
At the heart of this development is the RLUSD, Ripple's stablecoin pegged to the U.S. dollar. With conditional banking licensure, Ripple will be able to hold reserves, manage settlement flows, and issue stablecoins within a structure that mimics traditional credit banks. This could address long-standing concerns from regulators and financial institutions regarding transparency, reserve management, and consumer protection in the stablecoin market.
Garlinghouse leveraged the announcement to respond to criticisms from some banking sectors, arguing that cryptocurrency companies are increasingly operating under the same regulatory standards - or stricter standards - as traditional institutions. This move also signals a broader shift in U.S. policy, as regulators appear more open to integrating compliant cryptocurrency companies into the existing financial framework rather than excluding them.
XRP's price reaction remains lukewarm
Despite the significance of the regulatory news, XRP's price reaction has been relatively lukewarm. On the four-hour chart, XRP is trading near $1.98, showing limited momentum in the short term. The currency remains locked in a wider consolidation range after failing to sustain a move above the resistance zone of $2.20 - $2.30 seen earlier in November.
Technical indicators suggest caution among traders. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) hovers in the low forties, indicating weak upward pressure without reaching oversold territory. Meanwhile, the MACD remains slightly negative, reflecting a lack of strong directional conviction in the near term.
This lukewarm response indicates that while the regulatory achievement is structurally important, traders may be waiting for confirmation through follow-up approvals, operational timelines, or clearer signals on how Ripple's banking ambitions translate into demand for XRP.
What’s next for Ripple and XRP?
If completed, the Ripple National Trust Bank could grant Ripple direct access to U.S. payment rails and allow it to link cryptocurrency-based settlements to traditional finance more efficiently. For XRP, the long-term implications could be significant, especially if the currency sees expanded use in regulated payment and liquidity products.
However, in the short term, market participants appear cautious. XRP continues to trade within a well-defined range, and a decisive breakout above $2.05 - $2.10 may be needed to reignite the bullish momentum tied to the regulatory narrative.
Currently, Ripple's banking approval stands as a strategic victory, even if the market has yet to fully price in its potential impact.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or trading advice.
