The US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency said it has received 40 new bank charter applications from digital-asset and emerging-tech firms over the past 18 months. Comptroller Jonathan Gould said the agency's prior reluctance to approve new bank charters "has now ended," with decisions on complete applications expected within 120 days.
Matters because: It may support broader institutional integration of crypto firms into the traditional banking system if charters are granted.