World Liberty Financial has taken a significant step toward deeper integration with the U.S. financial system by seeking regulatory approval to establish a national trust bank focused on stablecoin activity. The crypto venture, backed by the family of President Donald Trump, said its subsidiary has filed an application with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to launch a federally regulated trust bank. The proposed institution would be dedicated to issuing, redeeming, and safeguarding dollar-backed digital assets, reflecting a broader trend of crypto firms pursuing bank-like structures under federal oversight. This approach signals growing confidence that stablecoins are moving from peripheral market tools toward core financial infrastructure, particularly as regulatory clarity improves and institutional participation accelerates across the digital asset sector.
At the center of the application is USD1, a dollar-pegged stablecoin launched by World Liberty Financial last year that the firm says has already surpassed $3.3 billion in circulation. The proposed trust bank would support direct issuance and redemption of the token, along with custody services for other digital assets. World Liberty has also indicated that it plans to offer fee-free conversion between U.S. dollars and USD1 at launch, a move that could encourage adoption by lowering friction for users moving between traditional and digital money. By structuring the bank to comply with the recently enacted federal stablecoin framework, the company is positioning itself to operate squarely within the regulatory perimeter rather than relying on indirect partnerships or offshore structures.
The application comes as only a small number of crypto-native firms have successfully entered the national trust bank system, highlighting both the opportunity and the regulatory hurdle involved. A trust bank charter would place World Liberty under direct federal supervision, aligning stablecoin issuance with standards applied to other specialized banking entities. This development underscores how stablecoin issuers are increasingly viewing banking licenses as a strategic asset rather than a constraint, enabling them to scale operations while reinforcing credibility with institutions and regulators. As policymakers continue to define the role of digital dollars within the financial system, efforts like this illustrate how stablecoin firms are adapting their models to fit within established regulatory frameworks while expanding access to tokenized cash.
