Circle's USDC Stablecoin Clears Major Regulatory Hurdle with OCC Approval

Circle, the company behind the USDC stablecoin, has received final approval from the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to establish First National Digital Currency Bank. This approval marks the end of a process that began in December 2025, when Circle first received conditional approval alongside other companies.

The new Circle National Trust will oversee custody infrastructure for USDC and could eventually bring management of the stablecoin's reserves under direct federal oversight. The charter also lays the groundwork for future capabilities, such as bringing management of the USDC Reserve under direct federal oversight.

Circle's shares jumped about 13% in pre-market trading, recovering from a three-month low reached in the previous session. This rally coincided with Bitcoin climbing back above $64,000, lifting several crypto-linked equities in pre-market trading, including Coinbase.