OCC Authorizes U.S. Banks to Possess Crypto for Gas fee Settlements
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has issued fresh guidance permitting national banks to maintain certain cryptocurrencies exclusively for the payment of distributed record protocol fees. This action, detailed in Interpretive Letter 1186 released on November 18, 2025, affirms that banks are allowed to keep crypto assets on their balance sheets as part of their operational requirements while acting as principal.
Storing Crypto for Smooth Transactions
According to the letter, banks are permitted to hold native crypto assets such as ETH when they anticipate the need to cover platform fees shortly. These gas fees are crucial for utilizing platforms like Ethereum, which necessitate payment in the native crypto token to validate transactions.
Without these tokens, a bank risks service delays or interruptions. The OCC stressed that banks must associate these crypto holdings with authorized banking operations, ensuring crypto law with regulations.
Eliminating the Intermediary
Previously, banks had to depend on external parties to manage these fee transactions or avoid maintaining native tokens completely. This slowed down operations and increased costs. Now, banks can directly handle these payments, potentially expediting processes and lowering unnecessary expenses. It’s a subtle yet significant shift in how banks may function in the crypto asset sector.
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ETH Takes Center Stage
Ethereum is the primary example referenced in the guidance. For instance, if a bank offers crypto custody services and must transfer a customer’s assets on ETH, it will require Ethereum for that transaction.
Under the revised regulations, banks can maintain just enough Ethereum to address these fees. This quantity must be minimal relative to the bank’s total capital, and the bank is required to implement strong risk management practices. The OCC highlighted that challenges such as crypto market swings and transaction delays must still be carefully supervised.
A Step Toward Greater Engagement
This initiative could position banks closer to being more actively engaged in blockchain networks. By paying protocol fees directly, they may also consider running validator nodes or offering enhanced crypto services. Industry observers believe this represents a subtle transition that could enable banks to embrace more responsibilities within the blockchain ecosystem, without needing significant regulatory changes.
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The Upcoming Questions
The next developments will rely on how banks react. Will they begin to long-term holding ETH and other native tokens in actual practice, or will they proceed with caution? How will regulators assess compliance as banks implement this framework? And will this catalyze broader acceptance of crypto asset payment systems within the banking industry? These are notable trends to monitor as the sector continues to change.
A New Operational Framework, With Constraints
This does not provide an unfettered endorsement for crypto speculation, but it certainly offers banks additional flexibility. The OCC clarified that native coin holdings must remain associated with genuine service requirements. While it doesn’t address every legal or regulatory dilemma, it signals that traditional finance is beginning to find space for crypto in more practical and operational terms.
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Key Takeaways
- U.S. banks are now authorized to hodl crypto assets like ETH for transaction cost payments, due to guidance from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.
- The crypto law permits banks to hodl crypto solely when it is required for authorized operations, such as asset transfers or validating distributed database transactions.
- By managing gas fees directly, banks can mitigate service delays and lessen dependency on third-party providers.
- ETH is underscored as the main instance, allowing banks to keep modest quantities of ETH for payment of fees, under strict risk supervision.
- This initiative paves the way for banks to consider greater involvement in crypto networks while adhering to regulatory requirements.
The post OCC Clears U.S. Banks to Hodl Crypto for Gas fee Payments appeared first on 99Bitcoins.
