The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency issued Interpretive Letter 1186 confirming that national banks may pay crypto-asset network fees on blockchain networks and hold certain crypto-assets as principal to support those activities. The letter clarifies that banks may hold, on balance sheet, the amount of crypto-assets needed to pay “gas fees” where the bank anticipates a reasonably foreseeable need in connection with otherwise permissible activities. It also confirms that banks may hold crypto-assets as principal as necessary to test otherwise permissible crypto-asset-related platforms, whether developed internally or obtained from a third party, subject to safe and sound operation and compliance with applicable law.
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency 2025-11-18
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency confirms national banks may hold limited crypto-assets as principal to pay network fees and test platforms
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency issued Interpretive Letter 1186, confirming that national banks may pay crypto-asset network fees and hold certain crypto-assets as principal to support these activities. Banks can hold crypto-assets on balance sheets for "gas fees" and to test crypto-asset-related platforms, subject to safe and sound operation and compliance with applicable law.