Stripe's Bridge Acquires Trust Charter for Stablecoins
Stripe-owned Bridge has acquired a trust charter, clearing a regulatory path for it to issue and custody stablecoins. The charter allows Bridge to operate under U.S. trust law, a pivotal step for onboarding enterprise and banking clients seeking compliant digital asset infrastructure. This development strengthens the regulatory foundation for stablecoin integration into the traditional financial system.
- The national trust bank charter was conditionally approved by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). Once fully approved, this will allow Bridge to offer digital asset custody, stablecoin issuance, and reserve management under direct federal oversight. - Stripe acquired Bridge in February 2025 for $1.1 billion, marking a significant investment into stablecoin infrastructure. This acquisition is a key part of Stripe's strategy to treat crypto as foundational "plumbing" for a new financial stack, focusing on infrastructure rather than speculative assets. - International payments fintech Payoneer plans to partner with Bridge to offer stablecoin services for its cross-border business clients, with a launch targeted for mid-2026. This partnership aims to address friction points for businesses in emerging markets by allowing them to receive, hold, and send stablecoins. - Bridge's "Open Issuance" platform, launched in late 2025, enables other businesses to create their own stablecoins. Reserve management for these stablecoins can be handled through partnerships with major financial players like BlackRock and Fidelity Investments. - The move to obtain a federal charter places Stripe's Bridge in a competitive landscape with other major players building stablecoin infrastructure, such as Circle with its purpose-built "Arc" blockchain. - Stripe's re-entry into crypto, after ending Bitcoin payment support in 2018 due to a lack of demand, has been strategic. The company now focuses on stablecoins for use cases like global payouts where they can be more efficient than traditional fiat rails. - The charter aligns Bridge with emerging federal standards, including the GENIUS Act, positioning it to serve institutional clients who require regulatory clarity and compliance. - Prior to the acquisition by Stripe, Bridge was a two-and-a-half-year-old startup that had already experienced significant growth in its stablecoin infrastructure business, including facilitating cross-border payments and government aid distribution in Latin America.
