Citadel Securities-Backed Crypto Exchange Applies for National Trust Bank Charter

EDX Markets – a crypto exchange backed by Citadel Securities – has applied with the Office of the Comptroller of Currency (OCC) for a national trust bank charter.

What's the Scoop?

• New Trust Bank: EDX Markets submitted an application with the OCC to become a national trust bank on March 25, according to a regulatory filing recently made public. Approval would allow EDX to offer nationwide custody, asset management, and principal trading services (without needing to secure individual state-level licenses) alongside its existing order-matching business.
• Growing Trend: Anchorage Digital – a national trust bank charterholder since 2021 – had been the only federally licensed crypto bank until December, when the OCC granted five new charters to crypto-focused banking subsidiaries, conforming with the Trump administration’s push for a more permissive, pro-crypto regulatory framework.
• Immense Prospects: In a comment to Bloomberg about the charter application, EDX CEO Tony Acuña-Rohter stated, "It is without a doubt that the next wave of crypto will be the large banks." He continued, "And in order for us to be able to service these firms, we think it gives us a competitive advantage to be an OCC-chartered trust."