With a new understanding of riskless crypto trades, crypto and traditional banking have never been closer. For years, banks have watched crypto from the sidelines. Now, one major regulator has finally given them a clear path to join in.
The OCC says banks can now conduct Riskless Crypto Trades as long as they follow standard banking rules and maintain safety and soundness.
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC)
In Interpretive Letter No. 1188, the OCC confirmed what banks have waited years to hear. National banks may now act as intermediaries in crypto trades, but only for riskless principal transactions.
The U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) issued Interpretive Letter No. 1188, confirming that national banks may engage in “riskless principal” crypto-asset transactions in compliance with applicable regulations. Such transactions involve a bank acting in its own…
— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) December 9, 2025
The bank purchases crypto from one customer and sells it to another customer instantly. The trades offset each other, so the bank never holds crypto and faces almost no market risk. The OCC indicates that this qualifies as normal banking practice provided the bank adheres to all the relevant regulations.
How Riskless Crypto Trades Work?
Here’s the simplest way to think about it:
- •Customer A wants to sell crypto.
- •Customer B is interested in purchasing the same crypto.
- •The bank steps in and balances the two parties, and the trade is successful.
- •The bank never holds crypto or speculates on it.
- •They facilitate the deal.
It is like how banks already process some securities trades. In this case, they act as brokers and earn a small spread or fee without purchasing the asset.
🚨US BANKS CAN NOW HANDLE CRYPTO TRANSACTIONS
The OCC says banks may act as intermediaries in “riskless principal” crypto transactions, as the Trump administration moves to bring TradFi closer to crypto. pic.twitter.com/eGkYV0YWgq
— Coin Bureau (@coinbureau) December 9, 2025
Why This Matters?
Such an action paves the way for secure and controlled access to cryptocurrency within the conventional banking industry. Customers who don’t want to trade on an exchange can now trade with their bank.
In crypto markets, such an arrangement could bring in more liquidity, users, and stability. Regulators in the US are beginning to view crypto activities as regular finance, rather than something exotic and unattainable.
🚨 BREAKING: This is HUGE for crypto.
Most people have no idea what they’re looking at… but they should.
If you’re holding any amount of crypto, you need to see this.
The U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) just issued an interpretive letter confirming that… pic.twitter.com/nvaKT8AFSP
— NoLimit (@NoLimitGains) December 10, 2025
Conclusion
The OCC’s decision to approve Riskless Crypto Trades is a major step toward blending banking and crypto in a safe, practical way. Banks get clarity. Customers get trusted access, and the crypto industry gets one step closer to mainstream adoption. In short, Riskless Crypto Trades may be the simplest bridge yet between old finance and the digital future.