Erebor, a financial services firm backed by billionaire Peter Thiel, has received regulatory clearance to operate in the United States, according to a report by the Financial Times. The company has secured a preliminary banking charter from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), marking one of the first such approvals for a bank focused on the digital and innovation sectors.
The OCC confirmed the decision in a statement, saying that “permissible digital asset activities […] have a place in the federal banking system if conducted in a safe and sound manner.” The charter remains conditional, and Erebor must complete additional compliance and security reviews before it can begin operations — a process expected to take several months.
People familiar with the firm told the Financial Times that Erebor intends to serve the “innovation economy,” providing credit and financial services to companies in industries such as cryptocurrency, artificial intelligence, and advanced technology. “We want to be a stable, low‑risk, reliable bank doing normal banking things without screwing everyone over with undue risk,” a person close to the company said.
Filling the Post‑SVB Funding Gap
Erebor’s entry comes as startups and tech‑focused businesses continue to face tighter lending conditions following the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and other regional lenders in 2023. The failures of Silvergate Bank, Signature Bank, and First Republic Bank disrupted funding pipelines for early‑stage firms, particularly those involved in crypto and frontier technologies.
Rising interest rates and a risk‑off stance from traditional lenders further strained access to credit, prompting new entrants such as Erebor to target this niche. The firm aims to replicate the role once played by Silicon Valley Bank, serving high‑growth businesses that have struggled to secure capital in a more conservative banking environment.
Thiel, who co‑founded PayPal and was an early investor in Facebook, has backed several ventures at the intersection of finance and technology. Erebor’s approval gives his portfolio a foothold in the U.S. banking system at a time when regulators are cautiously reopening the door to digital asset firms.
Regulatory Climate Turns More Welcoming
The charter approval coincides with a shift in Washington toward clearer digital asset regulation. President Donald Trump recently signed a stablecoin bill into law, while Congress is debating further legislation on crypto market structure and limits on a central bank digital currency. The measures have encouraged firms to seek U.S. licensing after years of uncertainty.
Coinbase has applied for a national trust company charter with the OCC, which would enable it to expand into payments and custody services. Circle, issuer of the USDC stablecoin, and Ripple Labs have filed similar applications. These moves reflect a broader effort by digital asset companies to build regulated operations within the federal banking framework.
Still, the trend has met resistance. U.S. banking and credit union trade groups have urged the OCC to pause approvals for crypto‑linked firms, citing unresolved “policy and process concerns.” Their warnings mirror the backlash that followed the failures of crypto‑friendly banks in 2023, when regulators were accused of lax supervision.
Legal Challenges Ahead
The next phase of Erebor’s approval could test the boundaries of federal banking law. Caitlin Long, founder of Custodia Bank, said the issue of whether trust charters can operate as de facto bank charters — allowing institutions to issue loans and access Federal Reserve master accounts — is “very likely to be litigated.”
Long and other executives argue that the current system grants an uneven advantage to firms that receive conditional trust charters without meeting the full capital and oversight requirements of traditional banks. Industry lawyers say the outcome could determine how integrated digital asset banks become within the U.S. financial system.
For now, Erebor’s conditional approval highlights regulators’ willingness to engage with new entrants, even as the broader policy debate over crypto banking continues. If fully licensed, the Thiel‑backed lender could become a test case for how far federal regulators are prepared to go in redefining the boundaries between traditional and digital finance.