Block has applied to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to establish Builders Bank & Trust, a proposed institution intended to provide custody for Bitcoin and stablecoins.
Block has applied to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to establish Builders Bank & Trust, a proposed institution intended to provide custody for Bitcoin and stablecoins. The filing positions the company to seek a national trust charter rather than an operating bank license, though no approval has been granted.
The proposal centers on Bitcoin, the asset whose custody and settlement properties continue to draw regulated firms toward federal chartering. For a payments company like Block, a trust structure would place Bitcoin custody inside the federal banking perimeter overseen by the OCC. For related coverage, see PolyNext Awards & Conference Dubai 2026: Advancing the Global Dialogue on Plastic Recycling and Circularity.
WHAT TO KNOW
- Block has applied to the OCC to establish Builders Bank & Trust.
- The proposed entity is intended for Bitcoin and stablecoin custody.
Block applies to the OCC to establish Builders Bank & Trust
Block is the applicant behind the proposed Builders Bank & Trust. The application is directed to the OCC, the federal regulator that maintains the list of chartered national trust banks. For related coverage, see Hyperliquid ETF Holdings: UBS, Jane Street Among Firms With $75M.
Builders Bank & Trust is the name of the proposed entity, not an approved or operating institution. Applying for a charter is the first step in a review process, and the available information describes an application to establish the entity rather than a completed authorization or a public launch.
The move fits a wider pattern of firms building regulated Bitcoin infrastructure, distinct from consumer plays such as high-profile Bitcoin purchases or corporate treasury strategies like Strategy’s ongoing Bitcoin accumulation.
Bitcoin and stablecoin custody define the stated scope
Bitcoin custody is part of the stated purpose of the proposed Builders Bank & Trust. Safekeeping of Bitcoin, the practice of securing the private keys that control on-chain balances, is the core function such a trust entity would perform.
Stablecoin custody is also named as part of the stated purpose. Stablecoins are tokens designed to hold a fixed value, typically pegged to a fiat currency, and the proposal frames their custody alongside Bitcoin rather than describing issuance or a list of supported tokens.
These custody services are proposed, not available. The scope described covers safekeeping of the two named asset categories, and the available information does not extend to customer eligibility, insurance, lending, or integration with Block’s other products. Efforts to secure large Bitcoin holdings remain an industry focus, as seen when the Liquid Network recovered thousands of Bitcoin.
What remains unspecified about the proposal
The available information does not establish an OCC decision on the application. No approval outcome is confirmed, and the proposed entity should be read as an applicant rather than a chartered bank.
No launch date or detailed custody offering is provided. The absence of these details reflects the limits of what has been disclosed at the application stage, and should not be read as information Block has withheld or declined to make public.
Bitcoin’s monetary properties, its fixed supply and self-custodial settlement, are what make regulated custody structures like this relevant to the network’s institutional adoption. Whether Builders Bank & Trust advances through OCC review will determine if the proposal moves from filing to a functioning custodian.
Additional source references: source document 1.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Cryptocurrency and digital asset markets carry significant risk. Always do your own research before making decisions.
