Bitcoin and stablecoin custodian trust bank program

Block applies to establish a federally regulated custodian bank

According to a report on September 8, 2026, Block, Inc. We are working to build a federally regulated custody business. The company has submitted an application to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to establish a "Builders Bank Trust, N.A." This is a proposed national trust bank designed to provide custody services for bitcoin and stablecoins.

The plan positions Block's custodian trust bank as an uninsured institution that neither accepts deposits nor makes loans. Currently, the charter is still in the application stage and has not yet been approved.

Proposed scope of custody services

According to a report released by PYMNTS on Block, the proposed Block Custody Trust Bank-Builders Bank Trust, N.A., Custody and related trusteeship services will be provided, including services for bitcoin and stablecoins. This structure reflects a broader trend towards transitioning to regulated digital asset custody, after Circle previously applied for a trust bank charter to custody USDC.

The proposal is forward-looking: the report describes the application content and proposed terms, rather than the entities already operating, customer lists or start-up plans. Lee Woolley, Block's head of digital asset strategy, was designated as the proposed leader of Builders Bank.

Federal Bank License Application Details

At the heart of the plan are federal charter applications filed with the OCC. If approved, it would establish a federal regulatory framework for certain custody and related activities that Block currently provides. This claim stems from the company's own investor announcements and is passed through secondary reporting rather than directly readable OCC files.

It needs to be clear that what is confirmed is the application and its proposed terms; what is not confirmed is any regulatory decision. The report clearly pointed out that the effectiveness of the charter depends on the approval result and does not establish the fact that the OCC has approved the bank or that the bank has started operations.

Details of known custody scope

Only two types of assets are named in the proposal. If approved, the bank will operate as an uninsured national trust bank and will not accept deposits or issue loans. In addition, service details remain unclear. The report did not mention the specific stablecoin name, supported blockchain networks or customer qualification terms. In addition, the custody proposal does not authorize the issuance, trading, lending or provision of stablecoin deposit services.

Specific details about asset qualifications and the scope of the network are the next key issues and are currently considered undisclosed information rather than a given fact.

Market Background and Price Data

In terms of market background, a research snapshot showed that Bitcoin was trading at approximately US$78,131, down approximately 0.8% that day. This data is only for supporting market background and does not indicate that Bitcoin prices have any reaction to Block's reporting request. The Bitcoin price in the provided CoinGecko research snapshot is US$78,131; the API does not provide an observation timestamp. Open source pages may display updated prices.

Details to be resolved in the Block Plan

There are a number of gaps in existing reporting that should be seen as limitations on the current record rather than as proof that disclosures do not exist elsewhere:

• There are no independently read OCC files, filing identifiers, or filing confirmations.
• Unnamed specific stablecoins and supported blockchain networks.
• No customer qualification terms, proposed launch time or approval decision were provided.

This distinction is crucial for holders, builders and policy observers: application, charter approval and operation start-up are three separate events, and only the first event is reported here. A broader wave of institutional stablecoins, including planned U.S. dollar stablecoins from Goldman Sachs and Bank of America, has highlighted why regulated custody channels are now becoming a focus of competition.

FAQs: The Custodian Trust Bank of the Block Program

What is Block planning?

According to reports on September 8, 2026, Block plans to establish a company called Builders Bank Trust, N.A. is a national trust bank that holds bitcoin and stablecoins and submits a federal charter application with the OCC.

Has Block obtained a federal banking license for this proposal?

Existing reports do not establish any approvals. The validity of the charter is described as dependent on approval, which has not yet been tested.

What stablecoins will the bank support?

The reports obtained did not specify specific stablecoins, nor did they mention any supported blockchain networks.

When will the Custody Trust Bank be launched?

No launch date was provided. The report covers applications rather than already operating institutions.

Disclaimer : This article is for reference only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. There are significant risks in the cryptocurrency and digital asset markets. Be sure to conduct independent research before making a decision.