Speech: Remarks at the Blockchain Association Policy Summit

December 8, 2025 / Source: Office of the Comptroller of the Currency

Thank you to the Blockchain Association for having me today and thank you all for being
here. The Blockchain Association has been an influential voice in the policy discussions around
innovation and support for a digital asset economy—advances that, if done safely and soundly,
will ensure the United States’ financial system continues to be the envy of the world.
Today, I would like to share my thoughts on a key priority: reinvigorating the chartering
of new banks. Chartering new banking institutions is one of the OCC’s core functions. A robust
pipeline of de novo banks is crucial to a healthy financial system. New charters ensure a diverse
banking sector, as new entrants bring new ideas, new products, and new services to U.S.
consumers. De novo institutions are an important source of competition to market incumbents,
which not only results in more consumer choice but also incentivizes existing institutions to
improve their products and services to remain dynamic market participants.
Perhaps most importantly, de novo chartering helps ensure that the banking system
continues to keep pace with the evolution of finance and supports our modern economy. That is
why entities that engage in activities involving digital assets and other novel technologies should
have a pathway to become federally supervised banks, if they so desire and if they meet the
requirements to receive an OCC charter…