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Project Overview
Occam is a multi-chain launchpad and incubator augmented with a suite of DeFi products. Its focus is on interchain DeFi, with a special emphasis on Cardano and Milkomeda.
OpenReserve receives preliminary approval for full-service national bank, must raise $210 million and maintain 12% Tier 1 leverage ratio
Odaily News: Blockchain-native fintech startup OpenReserve received preliminary conditional approval from the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) on September 2 to establish a full-service national bank in Salt Lake City, Utah. The approval process took less than five months, with OpenReserve submitting its application on April 13.OpenReserve must raise at least $210 million in initial paid-in capital within 12 months and maintain a minimum Tier 1 leverage ratio of 12% for three years after opening. It must also commence operations within 18 months, or the approval will lapse. The relevant deadlines are September 2027 and March 2028, respectively.OpenReserve plans to offer tokenized deposits, treasury management, foreign correspondent banking, and Banking-as-a-Service for institutional clients. The full-service national bank charter, upon final approval, would allow it to accept deposits and conduct lending activities.OpenReserve previously completed a $25 million seed funding round led by a16z crypto, with participation from Coinbase Ventures, Jump Capital, and Wintermute Ventures, among others. The company plans to establish a wholly-owned subsidiary to issue and redeem dollar-denominated, reserve-backed stablecoins, but that subsidiary has not yet filed an application with the OCC. (Decrypt)
Goldman Sachs: Crypto Trading Has Fallen for Ten Consecutive Months, Turning Point May Be Approaching
According to Chaoxiang Research, Goldman Sachs' research report dated August 24, 2026, indicates that cryptocurrency trading volume fell 30% in July and 21% in August, declining for 10 consecutive months, a duration that exceeded the median of the previous five cycles. Trading volume in this cycle has dropped 75% from its peak, while cryptocurrency market capitalization rebounded 21% over the past week. Goldman Sachs suggests a turning point in trading volume may emerge if market cap remains at current levels. On the regulatory front, 35% of institutional investors cite regulatory uncertainty as the biggest hurdle, while 32% identify regulatory clarity as the primary catalyst. The SEC recently proposed an innovation exemption framework. In 2026, over 10 additional digital asset companies received bank charters from the OCC, and more than 15 crypto firms have already been incorporated into the federal banking system. Crypto companies reduced expenses by an average of approximately 5% in 2026, lifting operating margins by roughly 5.8 percentage points. Goldman Sachs remains cautiously optimistic for the second half of the year, with sector valuations currently positioned at the 30th percentile over a five-year period. Key recommendations include COIN (target price $196), HOOD ($124), IBKR ($114, featured on Goldman Sachs' Conviction List US), and FIGR ($43). The investment logic diverges across the three sectors: traditional brokerages are poised for a September reversal, prediction markets are driven by the election cycle, and crypto equities benefit from a triple catalyst of market cap recovery, cost reductions, and regulatory reform.
Crypto.com Custody will provide institutional-grade custody and liquidity services for XYO and XL1
Crypto.com Custody has announced it will provide institutional-grade custody and liquidity services for XYO and XL1. This marks the first listing on a major trading platform for XL1 following its token sale, allowing qualified institutions and high-net-worth clients to store, manage, and exchange both tokens through a regulated pathway. Related assets will be held in client-segregated MPC wallets and held by bankruptcy-remote entities. Private keys are protected by multi-party computation running within a trusted execution environment. Clients have access to cold storage, audit trails, and Crypto.com’s institutional liquidity services. Eric Anziani, President and Chief Operating Officer of Crypto.com, stated that digital asset organizations require custody solutions that offer both security and liquidity. Markus Levin, co-founder of XYO, noted that after XYO was initially listed on the Crypto.com trading platform, the relationship between the two parties has continued to expand. In July 2026, Citadel Securities invested $400 million in Crypto.com at a valuation of $20 billion. In February 2026, the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) conditionally approved Crypto.com to establish Crypto.com National Trust Bank.
Digital asset trading platform EDX Markets has completed a $76 million Series C funding round, led by SBI Holdings.
EDX Markets, an institutional digital asset trading platform, announced the completion of a $76 million Series C funding round, led by Japan's major financial group SBI Holdings. The company stated that the proceeds from this round will be used to upgrade its trading, clearing, and settlement infrastructure, accelerate product iteration, and promote the scaled rollout of global institutional services.Previously, EDX had launched EDX FlowConnect, empowering enterprises to compliantly launch digital asset trading services. Additionally, the platform has submitted an application to the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to establish EDX Trust, aiming to build a federally regulated digital asset custody, clearing, settlement, and risk management system. (Prnewswire)
OCC Proposes Applying the Bank Secrecy Act to Stablecoin Issuers
According to PYMNTS, on June 22, the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) issued a proposed rulemaking requiring payment stablecoin issuers (PPSIs) under its supervision to comply with provisions of the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and the GENIUS Act, and mandating that they implement anti-money laundering/combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) programs, sanctions programs, and reporting requirements administered by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) and the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). The rule would also establish an OCC supervisory and enforcement framework for PPSIs’ AML/CFT obligations and clarify coordination mechanisms between the OCC and FinCEN in enforcement actions. Previously, the OCC had jointly sought public comment with the Federal Reserve, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) regarding requirements for stablecoin issuers to establish customer identification programs.
Fintech company Mercury completes $200 million funding round with participation from a16z and Sequoia Capital
fintech company Mercury has announced the completion of a new $200 million funding round, led by TCV with participation from Sequoia Capital, Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), Coatue Management, and other institutions.Mercury primarily provides banking services to startups. It currently serves over 300,000 clients and has achieved approximately $650 million in annualized revenue. The company stated that the recent surge in AI entrepreneurship has significantly driven demand for new company registrations and account openings, serving as a key growth driver.Meanwhile, Mercury also announced that it has received conditional approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to apply for a federal banking charter. This would enable it to expand lending capabilities, gain access to payment networks like Zelle, and reduce its reliance on partner banks. The company's founder stated that the long-term goal remains an independent IPO rather than an acquisition. (CNBC)
Block Applies to Establish National Trust Bank, Plans to Provide Bitcoin and Stablecoin Custody Services
According to The Block, Jack Dorsey-founded payment company Block has submitted an application to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to establish an uninsured national trust bank named Builders Bank & Trust, N.A. If approved, the bank would provide custody and other trust services, covering Bitcoin and stablecoins. Block stated that this federal charter will establish a federal regulatory framework for some of its custody and related businesses.
1:1 Bitcoin Backing: Circle Details cirBTC Isolated Custody and On-Chain Reserve Verification
Odaily News, Circle has published a statement on the cirBTC reserve mechanism, stating that each cirBTC is backed 1:1 by one native BTC and can be redeemed for native BTC at a 1:1 ratio. The corresponding BTC is held by Circle-affiliated entities and custodied by Circle National Trust, which is regulated by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). The reserve assets are segregated from Circle's corporate assets and are used solely to protect the interests of cirBTC holders. cirBTC is currently live on Ethereum and will receive native support once the Arc mainnet launches, with future expansion to more blockchains. Circle also provides on-chain reserve verification through a public BTC reserve address and the Chainlink Proof of Reserve mechanism, allowing market participants to compare the scale of reserved BTC against the circulating supply of cirBTC across all supported chains.
OpenReserve receives preliminary approval for full-service national bank, must raise $210 million and maintain 12% Tier 1 leverage ratio
Odaily News: Blockchain-native fintech startup OpenReserve received preliminary conditional approval from the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) on September 2 to establish a full-service national bank in Salt Lake City, Utah. The approval process took less than five months, with OpenReserve submitting its application on April 13.OpenReserve must raise at least $210 million in initial paid-in capital within 12 months and maintain a minimum Tier 1 leverage ratio of 12% for three years after opening. It must also commence operations within 18 months, or the approval will lapse. The relevant deadlines are September 2027 and March 2028, respectively.OpenReserve plans to offer tokenized deposits, treasury management, foreign correspondent banking, and Banking-as-a-Service for institutional clients. The full-service national bank charter, upon final approval, would allow it to accept deposits and conduct lending activities.OpenReserve previously completed a $25 million seed funding round led by a16z crypto, with participation from Coinbase Ventures, Jump Capital, and Wintermute Ventures, among others. The company plans to establish a wholly-owned subsidiary to issue and redeem dollar-denominated, reserve-backed stablecoins, but that subsidiary has not yet filed an application with the OCC. (Decrypt)
OCC and FDIC Advance Rules Clarifying "Unsafe or Unsound Practices" Definition; Barriers for Crypto Enterprises to Access Banking Services Expected to Be Eliminated
According to reporter Eleanor Terrett (@EleanorTerrett), the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) are advancing a rulemaking proposal to clarify the definition of "unsafe or unsound practices" in bank regulation. The term has long lacked a precise definition, granting examiners broad discretion. The new rule will require regulators to tie such determinations to actual violations or significant financial risks, preventing them from pressuring banks under vague reputational or procedural grounds to deny service to legitimate customers, including crypto businesses.
OCC and FDIC Move to Clarify Bank Regulatory Rules, Linking Practices to Illegal Conduct or Significant Financial Risk
Odaily News: Fox Business crypto reporter stated on the X platform that the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation are advancing toward finalizing a rule to define "unsafe or unsound practices" in bank regulation. The term has remained loosely defined for years, relying largely on the broad discretion of bank examiners. Under the rule, regulators must tie determinations that a practice is "unsafe or unsound" to actual violations of law or significant financial risk, thereby reducing the likelihood of pressuring banks—including those serving legitimate clients such as crypto companies—over vague reputational or procedural concerns. The rule marks another important step toward dismantling "Operation Choke Point 2.0."
ZeroHash Submits Second National Trust Bank Charter Application to OCC
Crypto infrastructure provider ZeroHash has submitted its second application for a national trust bank charter to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). Its first application, filed in March, was returned in July. This new submission aims to resolve compliance and custody pain points by securing a licensed status.
Mizuho Analyst: Circle's Trust Bank Approval Unlikely to Resolve USDC Market Share Decline Dilemma
According to The Block, Mizuho Bank analysts noted that while Circle's approval from the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to establish a national trust bank helps enhance its compliance credibility, it is insufficient to resolve current core pressures—the continued shrinkage of USDC market cap and increasingly fierce competition from Open USD—which still constitute a significant drag on $CRCL stock price.
Gate Ventures: Tech Stocks Hit New Highs Amid Inflationary Pressure, Crypto Market Risk Appetite Recovers
Odaily Odaily News According to the latest weekly report from Gate Ventures, global markets continued to strengthen last week, driven by the technology sector. Both the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq index hit new record highs, with the S&P 500 gaining 2.36% for the week and the Nasdaq rising 4.52%. In the crypto market, BTC rose 4.6% last week, ETH rose 2.1%, spot BTC ETFs recorded net inflows for the fifth consecutive week, and market sentiment recovered to the neutral range. Additionally, the total market cap of cryptocurrencies excluding the top ten assets increased by 12.6% for the week.On the macroeconomic front, the ISM Services Price Index rose to 70.7, a two-year high, coupled with energy price fluctuations and the Federal Reserve's policy expectation of "keeping interest rates higher for longer," leading to increased market focus on a "stagflation" environment. On the industry level, Payward, the parent company of Kraken, has applied to the OCC for a national trust charter, highlighting the increasingly evident trend of industry compliance. In terms of investment and financing, 10 deals were completed last week totaling $34.2 million, primarily concentrated in the DeFi and infrastructure sectors. Among them, OpenTrade completed a $17 million funding round to accelerate the development of institutional-grade stablecoin yield infrastructure; OnRe secured a $5 million Series A round to advance its Solana-based tokenized reinsurance product offerings.
Morgan Stanley: It will still take time for Bitcoin to enter U.S. bank balance sheets, but preparations are already underway.
According to CoinDesk, Amy Oldenburg, Head of Digital Asset Strategy at Morgan Stanley, stated at the Bitcoin Conference in Las Vegas that U.S. banks may hold bitcoin on their balance sheets in the future—but the timeline remains uncertain due to guidance from the Federal Reserve, the Basel Accords, and global regulatory requirements. Meanwhile, Morgan Stanley’s recently launched MSBT—the first bank-issued bitcoin ETP—drew over $100 million in inflows within its first six days of listing, all sourced exclusively from self-directed investment channels and not yet made available to financial advisors. Oldenburg noted that slow adoption by the advisor channel stems primarily from an education gap; the bank has initiated internal training programs to address this and is applying for a digital trust charter from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to support direct custody of crypto assets and spot crypto trading services.
1:1 Bitcoin Backing: Circle Details cirBTC Isolated Custody and On-Chain Reserve Verification
Odaily News, Circle has published a statement on the cirBTC reserve mechanism, stating that each cirBTC is backed 1:1 by one native BTC and can be redeemed for native BTC at a 1:1 ratio. The corresponding BTC is held by Circle-affiliated entities and custodied by Circle National Trust, which is regulated by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). The reserve assets are segregated from Circle's corporate assets and are used solely to protect the interests of cirBTC holders. cirBTC is currently live on Ethereum and will receive native support once the Arc mainnet launches, with future expansion to more blockchains. Circle also provides on-chain reserve verification through a public BTC reserve address and the Chainlink Proof of Reserve mechanism, allowing market participants to compare the scale of reserved BTC against the circulating supply of cirBTC across all supported chains.
OpenReserve receives preliminary approval for full-service national bank, must raise $210 million and maintain 12% Tier 1 leverage ratio
Odaily News: Blockchain-native fintech startup OpenReserve received preliminary conditional approval from the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) on September 2 to establish a full-service national bank in Salt Lake City, Utah. The approval process took less than five months, with OpenReserve submitting its application on April 13.OpenReserve must raise at least $210 million in initial paid-in capital within 12 months and maintain a minimum Tier 1 leverage ratio of 12% for three years after opening. It must also commence operations within 18 months, or the approval will lapse. The relevant deadlines are September 2027 and March 2028, respectively.OpenReserve plans to offer tokenized deposits, treasury management, foreign correspondent banking, and Banking-as-a-Service for institutional clients. The full-service national bank charter, upon final approval, would allow it to accept deposits and conduct lending activities.OpenReserve previously completed a $25 million seed funding round led by a16z crypto, with participation from Coinbase Ventures, Jump Capital, and Wintermute Ventures, among others. The company plans to establish a wholly-owned subsidiary to issue and redeem dollar-denominated, reserve-backed stablecoins, but that subsidiary has not yet filed an application with the OCC. (Decrypt)
Trump Family-Backed World Liberty Financial Receives Preliminary Approval for U.S. National Trust Bank Charter
According to Bloomberg, the Trump family-backed cryptocurrency project World Liberty Financial has received preliminary conditional approval from the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) for a national trust bank charter, with plans to establish World Liberty Trust Company. Upon final approval, the institution will be able to directly issue and redeem the stablecoin USD1, manage its reserve assets, and provide digital asset custody services.
OCC Pledges to Release Final Rule on Stablecoin GENIUS Act in November
Jonathan Gould, head of the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, stated that the OCC will release the final implementing rules for the GENIUS Act in November, which establishes a regulatory framework for payment stablecoins and is scheduled to take effect in January 2027.
OCC conditionally approves Trump family-linked crypto firm World Liberty Financial's trust bank charter application
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) has conditionally approved World Liberty Financial's application for a national trust bank charter, subject to regulatory and policy requirements. Upon approval, the company may operate under the name World Liberty Trust Company, National Association. World Liberty Financial's application documents show that the bank plans to issue USD-backed stablecoins and custody digital assets related to its USD1 token. U.S. President Donald Trump and his three sons are all affiliated with the company, with Trump family entities holding a 38% stake. Senator Elizabeth Warren, along with nine other senators, introduced the Terminating Presidential Banking Corruption Act following the approval. Elizabeth Warren stated that the OCC's move represents one of the most blatant conflicts of interest in the U.S. financial system. In January 2025, an Abu Dhabi investment company backed by UAE National Security Advisor Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan purchased a 49% stake in World Liberty for $500 million. Another UAE entity, MGX, previously used USD1 to invest $2 billion in Binance. (Cointelegraph)
OCC conditionally approves Trump-backed World Liberty National Trust bank application
Odaily News The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) on Friday granted initial conditional approval to World Liberty Trust Company, National Association, bringing Trump-backed World Liberty Financial one step closer to obtaining a national trust bank charter.In its letter, the OCC stated that World Liberty's charter application met certain regulatory and policy requirements, leading to the initial conditional approval. However, this does not constitute final approval, and the OCC may still rescind the approval.Earlier this year, World Liberty Financial established a new trust company with the aim of applying for a bank charter from the OCC. The company has previously stated that the charter would support its provision of services including stablecoin issuance and redemption, fiat on/off ramps, custody, and exchange. WLF currently issues the stablecoin USD1, which has a market cap of approximately $4 billion, making it the fourth-largest stablecoin after Tether and USDC.WLF CEO Zack Witkoff said on X on Friday that the company aims to build "the world's most trusted and widely used digital dollar" while strengthening the dollar's role in the global economy. Zack Witkoff is the son of Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. Overall, this approval could further strengthen WLF's position in the U.S. stablecoin and digital asset banking infrastructure, though its political ties may continue to raise regulatory and ethical concerns.
Related news
Block Applies to Establish National Trust Bank, Plans to Provide Bitcoin and Stablecoin Custody Services
According to The Block, Jack Dorsey-founded payment company Block has submitted an application to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to establish an uninsured national trust bank named Builders Bank & Trust, N.A. If approved, the bank would provide custody and other trust services, covering Bitcoin and stablecoins. Block stated that this federal charter will establish a federal regulatory framework for some of its custody and related businesses.
1:1 Bitcoin Backing: Circle Details cirBTC Isolated Custody and On-Chain Reserve Verification
Odaily News, Circle has published a statement on the cirBTC reserve mechanism, stating that each cirBTC is backed 1:1 by one native BTC and can be redeemed for native BTC at a 1:1 ratio. The corresponding BTC is held by Circle-affiliated entities and custodied by Circle National Trust, which is regulated by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). The reserve assets are segregated from Circle's corporate assets and are used solely to protect the interests of cirBTC holders. cirBTC is currently live on Ethereum and will receive native support once the Arc mainnet launches, with future expansion to more blockchains. Circle also provides on-chain reserve verification through a public BTC reserve address and the Chainlink Proof of Reserve mechanism, allowing market participants to compare the scale of reserved BTC against the circulating supply of cirBTC across all supported chains.
OpenReserve receives preliminary approval for full-service national bank, must raise $210 million and maintain 12% Tier 1 leverage ratio
Odaily News: Blockchain-native fintech startup OpenReserve received preliminary conditional approval from the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) on September 2 to establish a full-service national bank in Salt Lake City, Utah. The approval process took less than five months, with OpenReserve submitting its application on April 13.OpenReserve must raise at least $210 million in initial paid-in capital within 12 months and maintain a minimum Tier 1 leverage ratio of 12% for three years after opening. It must also commence operations within 18 months, or the approval will lapse. The relevant deadlines are September 2027 and March 2028, respectively.OpenReserve plans to offer tokenized deposits, treasury management, foreign correspondent banking, and Banking-as-a-Service for institutional clients. The full-service national bank charter, upon final approval, would allow it to accept deposits and conduct lending activities.OpenReserve previously completed a $25 million seed funding round led by a16z crypto, with participation from Coinbase Ventures, Jump Capital, and Wintermute Ventures, among others. The company plans to establish a wholly-owned subsidiary to issue and redeem dollar-denominated, reserve-backed stablecoins, but that subsidiary has not yet filed an application with the OCC. (Decrypt)
OCC and FDIC Advance Rules Clarifying "Unsafe or Unsound Practices" Definition; Barriers for Crypto Enterprises to Access Banking Services Expected to Be Eliminated
According to reporter Eleanor Terrett (@EleanorTerrett), the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) are advancing a rulemaking proposal to clarify the definition of "unsafe or unsound practices" in bank regulation. The term has long lacked a precise definition, granting examiners broad discretion. The new rule will require regulators to tie such determinations to actual violations or significant financial risks, preventing them from pressuring banks under vague reputational or procedural grounds to deny service to legitimate customers, including crypto businesses.
OCC and FDIC Move to Clarify Bank Regulatory Rules, Linking Practices to Illegal Conduct or Significant Financial Risk
Odaily News: Fox Business crypto reporter stated on the X platform that the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation are advancing toward finalizing a rule to define "unsafe or unsound practices" in bank regulation. The term has remained loosely defined for years, relying largely on the broad discretion of bank examiners. Under the rule, regulators must tie determinations that a practice is "unsafe or unsound" to actual violations of law or significant financial risk, thereby reducing the likelihood of pressuring banks—including those serving legitimate clients such as crypto companies—over vague reputational or procedural concerns. The rule marks another important step toward dismantling "Operation Choke Point 2.0."
ZeroHash Submits Second National Trust Bank Charter Application to OCC
Crypto infrastructure provider ZeroHash has submitted its second application for a national trust bank charter to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). Its first application, filed in March, was returned in July. This new submission aims to resolve compliance and custody pain points by securing a licensed status.