US banks now permitted to hold limited amounts of digital assets
Date: 2025-11-19 Author: Henry Casey Categories: IN WORLD
US authorities have expanded the scope of permissible digital asset transactions for traditional banks. A new circular published by the OCC clarifies that financial institutions approved to handle digital asset products can now hold limited amounts of cryptocurrency on their balance sheets. These assets may be used solely to cover transaction costs when working with blockchain infrastructure.
According to OCC General Counsel Adam Cohen, this easing of restrictions will help banks reduce operational risks previously associated with their reliance on external cryptocurrency providers. He emphasized that direct access to small, proprietary digital asset reserves allows for trial operations to be conducted in a more controlled environment, without outsourcing critical processes to third parties.
Cohen noted that the regulator requires strict compliance with all security standards and applicable laws. Banks are required to build processes to ensure that digital asset transactions—even test transactions—are conducted in a secure and protected environment. Particular attention must be paid to adhering to internal risk control protocols.
A separate clause in the circular concerns the possibility of storing crypto assets for technical testing. Banks are permitted to use digital assets both for testing their own blockchain platforms and for testing third-party solutions acquired from external developers. The OCC emphasized that banks must independently determine the required volume of such assets, avoiding excessive holdings that could negatively impact financial stability.
The regulator also reiterated that the "safe harbor" principle remains mandatory for all operations. This requires regular risk assessments, documented procedures, and ongoing monitoring of cryptocurrency activity. The OCC expects banks to implement appropriate controls before initiating any testing processes. OCC Commissioner Jonathan Gould previously stated that the emergence and development of stablecoins used in payment systems does not pose a threat of a sharp decline in bank deposits. He stated that the regulator sees no reason to believe that the use of such tokens could cause a massive outflow of funds from traditional financial institutions.
The OCC's new clarification fits into its overall strategy of gradually integrating digital assets into banking. The regulator aims to create conditions under which banks can safely implement innovations without exposing themselves to unnecessary risks and maintaining the stability of the financial system.
