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U.S. Banking Regulator Allows Banks to Hold Crypto-Assets for Network Fees
The OCC allows banks to hold crypto-assets to pay blockchain network fees, expanding institutional crypto exposure.
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) issued Interpretive Letter 1186, confirming national banks may hold crypto-assets on their balance sheets as principal, to the extent necessary to pay blockchain network fees (‘gas’) or test internal crypto-asset platforms.
The guidance clarifies the scope but obliges banks to conduct these activities “in a safe and sound manner” under existing law. The move is seen as widening banks’ crypto participation while raising regulatory and risk-management questions.