Banks in the United States have received new guidance from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), now permitting them to act as intermediaries in bitcoin transactions.
This move is part of broader efforts by the Trump administration to bridge the gap between traditional finance and the bitcoin sector.
OCC guidance on bitcoin transactions
The OCC’s latest directive states that banks may participate in so-called “riskless principal” transactions involving bitcoin.
In these arrangements, banks function as brokers: they purchase bitcoin from one counterparty and sell to another in a simultaneous transaction, without holding the asset in inventory except in rare cases.
The OCC clarified that such activities will not be subject to heightened regulatory scrutiny.
Policy shifts under Trump administration
President Donald Trump has taken a notably open stance toward the bitcoin industry.
His administration has been actively rewriting regulations and removing guardrails that previously limited bank involvement in bitcoin-related activities.
The OCC had already rolled back requirements set under President Joe Biden, including guidance that forced banks to seek prior approval before engaging in the sector.
Increased integration of banking and bitcoin
Critics have raised concerns that the growing interconnection between the banking system and the largely unregulated bitcoin market could introduce systemic risks.
Nevertheless, the new guidance represents a significant relaxation of previous restrictions, potentially paving the way for greater institutional involvement in the space.
