OCC Greenlights Riskless Principal Crypto Transactions, Expanding Banks’ Digital Asset Scope

Quick Breakdown 

• OCC clarifies that national banks can execute riskless principal crypto trades, acting as intermediaries without market risk.
• Guidance enables banks to expand crypto services, including custody, settlement, and principal trading, while complying with precise regulatory requirements.
• The ruling is seen as a step toward mainstream institutional crypto adoption, though political scrutiny over conflicts continues.

 

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) has confirmed that U.S. national banks may engage in riskless principal transactions involving crypto-assets, marking a key regulatory milestone for the integration of digital finance into mainstream banking. The guidance clarifies that banks can act as intermediaries in crypto trades without assuming market risk, effectively broadening the range of permissible banking activities in digital assets .

OCC Interpretive Letter 1188 confirms that a national bank may engage in riskless principal crypto-asset transactions as part of the business of banking.

— OCC (@USOCC) December 9, 2025

Understanding riskless principal transactions in crypto

A riskless principal transaction occurs when a bank buys a crypto-asset from one counterparty and immediately sells it to another, executing both sides simultaneously. Market and settlement risk is minimal, limited to rare events such as settlement failures. The OCC emphasized that this model is functionally equivalent to traditional brokerage services and is consistent with a bank’s role as a financial intermediary.

For crypto-assets classified as securities, such transactions are explicitly permitted under federal banking law. For non-security crypto-assets, the OCC determined that riskless principal activities fall under the incidental powers necessary to conduct banking business, given their similarity to established services such as brokerage and custody.

Implications for banks and the crypto market

The ruling empowers national banks to expand crypto offerings, including custody, settlement, and principal trading within a clear regulatory framework. By recognizing riskless principal transactions as routine banking functions, the OCC reduces legal uncertainty, enabling institutions to integrate digital assets into customer services with confidence. 

Industry observers view the decision as a significant step toward broader acceptance of crypto by regulated financial institutions, positioning national banks as trusted intermediaries in a rapidly evolving digital asset ecosystem. U.S. banks are now better positioned to offer compliant, seamless access to crypto markets while limiting exposure to speculative risk.

Political scrutiny adds context

The announcement comes amid heightened political scrutiny. Senators Elizabeth Warren, Chris Van Hollen, and Ron Wyden are demanding answers from the OCC regarding potential financial conflicts of interest involving former President Donald Trump and his family’s growing involvement in the cryptocurrency sector.

 

 

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