Chicago based digital asset infrastructure company ZeroHash has applied for a National Trust Bank Charter in the United States as it seeks to expand its regulated stablecoin and blockchain based financial services. The application has been submitted to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, which oversees national banks and federal trust institutions. If the charter is approved, ZeroHash would be able to operate under a single nationwide regulatory framework rather than navigating separate licensing requirements across multiple states.
The proposed charter would allow ZeroHash to issue stablecoins, provide custody services for digital assets, and manage reserve backing under direct federal supervision. Unlike traditional banks, a national trust bank is not permitted to accept consumer deposits or provide commercial lending services. Instead, institutions operating under this structure focus on specialized financial services such as digital asset custody, payment infrastructure, and blockchain based financial operations. For companies working within the digital asset ecosystem, this regulatory model offers a way to operate with clearer oversight while maintaining a focus on technology driven services.
At present, many cryptocurrency companies in the United States must comply with a complex network of state level licensing rules. Each jurisdiction may impose different regulatory requirements, which can make expansion more difficult for firms offering digital asset services nationwide. By obtaining a national trust charter, ZeroHash would be able to streamline its regulatory compliance and operate under a consistent federal framework. This structure could help the company scale its services more efficiently as stablecoin adoption continues to expand across financial markets.
Founded in 2017, ZeroHash has positioned itself as a provider of infrastructure that enables businesses to integrate digital assets into their platforms. The company offers technology that allows organizations to embed cryptocurrency trading, payments, and stablecoin functionality into their products. Through this approach, financial institutions and fintech companies can introduce digital asset capabilities without building complex blockchain systems from scratch. The platform currently supports use cases that include payments, payroll solutions, and trading services.
The company’s client base includes several well known institutions from the financial services sector. Large firms have used ZeroHash technology to connect traditional financial products with blockchain based systems. This type of infrastructure is becoming increasingly important as financial institutions explore ways to incorporate digital assets into their services while maintaining regulatory compliance and operational reliability.
ZeroHash is not the only company pursuing a national trust bank structure for digital asset services. In recent months several major firms operating in the cryptocurrency industry have taken similar steps to obtain federal oversight for their platforms. These moves reflect a broader shift in the digital asset sector toward regulatory alignment with traditional financial systems. As governments develop clearer rules around stablecoins and blockchain based payments, companies are increasingly seeking regulated structures that allow them to operate within the evolving financial framework.
The application is now under review by regulators and no timeline has been announced for a final decision. If approved, the charter could provide ZeroHash with a stronger regulatory foundation to expand its services across the United States and further integrate stablecoin technology into the broader financial infrastructure.
