US Banks Cleared For ‘Riskless’ Crypto Transactions Following OCC Letter

bitcoinistPublished on 2025-12-09Last updated on 2025-12-09

Abstract

In a major breakthrough for the U.S. digital asset industry, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) has announced that national banks are now permitted to engage in "riskless principal transactions" involving cryptocurrencies. This guidance, detailed in Interpretive Letter 1188, allows banks to buy and sell crypto-assets for custody customers based on their directions, aligning with existing custody services. The OCC emphasized that banks must conduct these activities in a safe, sound manner and in compliance with applicable law, with oversight included in its supervisory process. This move provides a more regulated environment for crypto transactions compared to external exchanges.

In a new major breakthrough for the digital asset industry in the United States, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) announced on Tuesday that national banks are permitted to engage in “riskless principal transactions” involving crypto-assets.

This confirmation comes through the issuance of Interpretive Letter 1188, which outlines the guidelines for such activities.

OCC’s New Framework

According to the OCC’s guidance, acting as a riskless principal for crypto-assets aligns with the services that national banks already offer to custody customers.

National banks are now allowed to buy and sell both financial and non-financial assets held in custody based on customer directions, adhering to existing agreements and legal requirements.

Therefore, facilitating the buying and selling of digital assets for custody customers in a riskless principal capacity is essentially the same as acting as an agent for those customers, and it is acknowledged as a legitimate banking activity.

This new framework means that customers can transact in crypto-assets through established national banks, providing a more regulated environment compared to exchanges that operate outside the purview of strict financial oversight.

Key Concern For Banks In Crypto Transactions

The OCC also distinguished between riskless principal transactions in digital assets and those in traditional securities. The primary differences lie in the underlying assets and the technology used to facilitate these transactions.

The main concern associated with riskless principal transactions is counterparty credit risk, especially settlement risk. Similarly, in customer-driven, perfectly matched derivative transactions that utilize transitory title transfer, credit risk is the predominant factor. In the letter, the OCC concluded the following:

As with any activity, a bank that conducts riskless principal crypto-asset transactions must do so in a safe and sound manner and in compliance with applicable law. The OCC will examine riskless principal crypto-asset activities as part of its ongoing supervisory process.

The daily chart shows the total crypto market cap recovery toward $3.18 trillion. Source: TOTAL on TradingView.com

Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com

Related Reads

Why $2.38 and $1.72 are NEAR’s key price levels

NEAR Protocol (NEAR) experienced significant bearish pressure, dropping 9.07% in 24 hours alongside declining Open Interest. Long-term weekly charts confirmed a bearish structure, with the $3.34 swing high remaining a key bullish target. The price failed to sustain above the critical $2.80 (78.6% Fibonacci) level, leading to a slump toward the $2 support zone. On shorter timeframes, a retracement bounce toward $2.1 was seen as a pullback within the downtrend. The ideal resistance area for sellers was identified as the $2.24-$2.38 Fibonacci golden pocket. However, a bearish shift in broader market sentiment, triggered by Bitcoin's rejection above $64k, caused NEAR to slide from $2.07 to $1.88. Key momentum indicators like MFI, CMF, and OBV remained neutral, showing no clear dominance. The analysis advises traders to wait for a move toward $2.38 for a better selling opportunity or watch for a break below $1.72, which would signal a bearish continuation and invalidate the current retracement structure. Both long-term and short-term trends remain bearish.

ambcrypto11m ago

Why $2.38 and $1.72 are NEAR’s key price levels

ambcrypto11m ago

How to Steadily Earn Money in Blockchain Games? The Project Team Reveals the Dual Profit Logic for Both Players and Projects

**Summary:** This interview features Leo, CBO of Gamebank, discussing the challenges and future of Web3 games through the lens of their project, Pump Snake. He addresses the core questions of playability and profitability. Leo explains that Pump Snake is a multiplayer, competitive take on the classic "Snake" game, designed for mass appeal and accessibility. The primary goal is to create an engaging game first; financial and asset-based features are secondary and depend on a strong player base. The project aims to be a gateway for Web2 users into Web3, allowing them to naturally encounter blockchain concepts through gameplay rather than direct crypto education. Key mechanisms discussed include: * **"Loss-to-Mine":** Players receive redeemable points for losses, which can be used for blind boxes (containing skins, items), improving retention by offering a reward even for losing. * **Commercialization:** Plans include in-game transaction fees, subscription services (SVIP), and sales of skins/blind boxes, all designed not to compromise competitive fairness. * **Future Token:** A token launch is confirmed but will be timed based on market conditions, regulatory clarity, and product maturity to avoid a "death spiral" economy. * **Fairness:** Paid features (SVIP, ads, blind boxes) are designed to offer cosmetic or convenience benefits without granting competitive advantages. Leo acknowledges current Web3 gaming setbacks but is optimistic about the long-term convergence of engaging gameplay, blockchain-based asset ownership/value distribution, and AI integration. Pump Snake is currently in a growth phase, focusing on product iteration and user acquisition in Asia before a broader rollout.

marsbit44m ago

How to Steadily Earn Money in Blockchain Games? The Project Team Reveals the Dual Profit Logic for Both Players and Projects

marsbit44m ago

Aave’s Native GHO Deployment On Arbitrum Pushes Stablecoin Liquidity Deeper Into Layer 2

Aave DAO has approved the native deployment of its GHO stablecoin on Arbitrum, a major Ethereum layer-2 network. This strategic move aims to boost GHO's liquidity, distribution, and utility by integrating it into Arbitrum's active DeFi ecosystem. The article frames this not as a direct price signal, but as a significant development in the broader stablecoin competition, which increasingly hinges on cross-chain deployment strategies and ease of use. For the market, the key focus will be on follow-through—whether this deployment gains traction and becomes part of larger lending and liquidity loops on Arbitrum, or remains an isolated update. The report emphasizes separating the confirmed development from surrounding speculation for a clearer understanding of its impact on liquidity and user behavior.

bitcoinist1h ago

Aave’s Native GHO Deployment On Arbitrum Pushes Stablecoin Liquidity Deeper Into Layer 2

bitcoinist1h ago

MakerDAO’s SPARK Distribution Plan Gives The Endgame Roadmap A Sharper Shape

MakerDAO's SPARK token distribution plan provides clearer insight into user and early participant incentives within its complex Endgame roadmap. This update focuses on rewarding Spark Protocol participation and moves the broader transition toward concrete, user-facing changes. Token distribution details are crucial as they make abstract governance personal, clarifying who benefits and what behaviors are encouraged. For the DeFi ecosystem surrounding Maker's stablecoin, clear incentives promote an organized transition. The key for markets is to separate confirmed developments from speculation and watch for follow-through actions, such as further governance votes or market reactions, to determine if this becomes a sustained trend rather than a single headline. The report is based on official MakerDAO forum information.

bitcoinist2h ago

MakerDAO’s SPARK Distribution Plan Gives The Endgame Roadmap A Sharper Shape

bitcoinist2h ago

Paxos USDGL Launch Adds A Singapore-Regulated Twist To Yield-Bearing Stablecoins

Paxos has launched USDGL, a yield-bearing stablecoin, specifically for the Singapore market. This move introduces a regulated angle to the competitive stablecoin landscape, leveraging Singapore's structured regulatory framework for digital assets to differentiate the product. The launch underscores Asia's growing influence in shaping the next generation of stablecoin offerings. The article emphasizes that for users, regulatory clarity and trust are as critical as yield, addressing concerns about transparency and reserve backing. For the market, this development is framed as part of the broader competition in Asia's stablecoin sector. The key takeaway is to monitor follow-through actions—such as subsequent filings, market reactions, or adoption metrics—to determine if this becomes a sustained trend or remains a single update. The report is based on information from Paxos's official platform.

bitcoinist2h ago

Paxos USDGL Launch Adds A Singapore-Regulated Twist To Yield-Bearing Stablecoins

bitcoinist2h ago

Trading

Spot
活动图片

Hot Categoriesright-arrow

Hot Tagsright-arrow