Zerohash Files OCC Application to Operate Federally Regulated Crypto Trust Bank

The application, submitted March 4 to the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), proposes creating a federally supervised entity called “Zerohash National Trust,” designed to handle digital asset custody and other services tied to blockchain-based finance.

Zerohash has also attracted substantial investor backing. The company has raised more than $286 million across funding rounds, including roughly $100 million in financing during 2025 that valued the firm at nearly $1 billion. Investors include Point72 Ventures, Bain Capital Ventures, NYCA, Interactive Brokers, SoFi, Apollo, and Tastytrade.

The firm already operates within a complex regulatory framework. It is registered as a Money Services Business with FinCEN and holds money transmitter licenses in 51 U.S. jurisdictions. In 2025, a subsidiary obtained a non-depository trust company charter from the North Carolina Commissioner of Banks, allowing it to act as a qualified custodian for registered investment advisors and certain retirement accounts.

For Zerohash, the payoff could be substantial if regulators sign off. A national charter would give the firm federal preemption over many state rules and potentially make it a preferred custody partner for institutional clients seeking regulated exposure to digital assets.