- World Liberty Financial has secured conditional OCC approval for a national trust bank that could bring USD1 issuance, redemption and reserve management in-house.
- The proposed bank must satisfy capital, liquidity and other regulatory requirements before it can begin operating as World Liberty Trust Company.
- The approval has intensified scrutiny of World Liberty’s Trump family and UAE ownership links, with Elizabeth Warren pursuing legislation over potential conflicts.
World Liberty Financial has received conditional approval from the US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to establish a national trust bank, marking a step towards bringing its stablecoin operations under its own banking structure. The proposed institution, World Liberty Trust Company, National Association, would be able to issue and manage dollar-backed stablecoins and conduct digital asset custody services once it satisfies the regulator’s conditions.
The bank’s planned activities centre on USD1, World Liberty’s stablecoin, with the institution expected to issue and redeem the token while managing the reserves supporting it. The firm said USD1 had surpassed US4 billion (AU$5.68 billion) in circulation on Friday.
The OCC’s approval remains conditional, with World Liberty Trust required to complete further steps before commencing operations. Those requirements include maintaining at least US$20 million (AU$28.4 million) of Tier 1 capital and holding at least US$10 million (AU$14.2 million), or half of Tier 1 capital if higher, in eligible liquid assets.
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Trump Family Ties Draw Scrutiny
The charter has nevertheless intensified scrutiny of World Liberty because of its relationship with President Donald Trump and his family. The company says an entity affiliated with Trump and certain family members owns 38% of its equity interests, while Trump’s three sons were involved in founding the business.
World Liberty also has ties to the United Arab Emirates, with an Abu Dhabi investment company reportedly acquiring a 49% stake for US$500 million (AU$710 million) in January 2025.
Senator Elizabeth Warren has strongly opposed the approval, accusing the OCC of enabling “the most brazen act of self-dealing” and saying she would pursue legislation restricting presidents and senior officials from owning or controlling banks. The OCC maintained that its officials acted consistently with their legal and ethical responsibilities when considering the application.
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