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Revolut Files for U.S. National Bank Charter With OCC

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Nexo Partners with Bakkt for US Crypto Exchange and Yield Programs

TLDR

  • Revolut filed an application for a U.S. national bank charter with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.
  • The license would allow Revolut to access Federal Reserve payment systems like Fedwire and ACH.
  • The charter would enable Revolut to offer federally insured deposits, credit cards, and personal loans directly.
  • Revolut currently provides U.S. banking services through its partner Lead Bank in Kansas City.
  • The company plans to invest $500 million in the U.S. market over the next three to five years.

Revolut has filed an application for a U.S. national bank charter with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. The move advances its plan to expand deeper into the American financial system. The company confirmed the filing on Thursday and outlined its strategy for growth in North America.

Revolut Seeks a U.S. National Bank Charter

Revolut submitted its application to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to secure a national bank charter. The company said the license would allow direct access to Federal Reserve payment systems. It expects access to networks such as Fedwire and the Automated Clearing House.

The charter would also allow Revolut to accept federally insured deposits up to $250,000 per account. It would also enable the company to issue credit cards and personal loans directly. Revolut currently provides U.S. banking services through Lead Bank in Kansas City.

That partnership allows accounts and payments without holding its own banking charter. However, the company dropped plans in January to acquire a U.S. bank. Instead, it chose to pursue a de novo banking license to build operations from scratch.

Revolut previously applied for a U.S. banking license in 2021 but withdrew in 2023. The company cited regulatory setbacks at that time. It has now renewed efforts under what it describes as updated regulatory conditions.

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The company said the United States remains central to its global digital banking strategy. It reported more than one million customers in the U.S. market. Revolut also plans to invest $500 million over the next three to five years.

Regulatory Steps and Crypto Expansion

The filing follows a development in the crypto sector earlier this week. Kraken secured a Federal Reserve master account for its banking arm. That approval grants Kraken direct access to the Fed’s core payment system.

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Revolut described its own application as a step toward direct participation in U.S. payment infrastructure. A national charter would reduce reliance on partner banks. It would also place the company under federal banking supervision.

Revolut holds a restricted banking license in the United Kingdom. The Prudential Regulation Authority granted that license in 2024 with operational limits. The company continues its mobilization phase toward full authorization.

It also holds banking licenses in other regions where it operates. However, it does not hold a banking license in every market. The U.S. charter would expand its regulated footprint.

Revolut said it appointed Cetin Duransoy to lead its U.S. operations. Duransoy previously worked as a senior executive at Visa. The company said his experience will guide its expansion in the American market.

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The Financial Conduct Authority selected Revolut to test stablecoin services under proposed U.K. rules. The company continues to develop crypto trading services across markets. It values the firm at about $75 billion based on recent disclosures.

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Crypto World

ETH Rally Toward $2.5K Held Back By Macro, War, DApp Use

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ETH Rally Toward $2.5K Held Back By Macro, War, DApp Use

Key takeaways:

  • ETH derivatives signal a shift to safety as professional desks hedge against downside risks and global instability.

  • Institutional preference for decentralization keeps Ethereum dominant despite its recent drop in network activity.

Ether (ETH) price dropped by 6% following a brief rally to $2,200 on Wednesday, tracking a downturn in US equities as the war in Iran entered its sixth day. Disruptions to global oil production and Middle East natural gas shipping pushed WTI crude prices to levels not seen since July 2024.

Investors lowered their economic growth outlook as the conflict escalated and moved to a risk-off posture. 

Traders’ sentiment was further pressured as the Trump administration faced a legal setback on its import tariffs. A Federal court on Monday rejected a Justice Department request to pause the case for 90 days, effectively striking down the administration’s use of emergency powers for trade levies.

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Ether remains caught in this macroeconomic crossfire, which has stifled momentum despite a 22% recovery from the $1,800 retest on Feb. 24. Onchain data and derivatives markets currently reflect significant apathy from bulls.

ETH 30-day futures annualized premium (basis rate). Source: Laevitas.ch

The ETH 30-day futures annualized premium sits well below the 5% neutral threshold, signaling a lack of demand for bullish leverage. However, this metric is weighed down by the fact that ETH trades 58% below its August 2025 all-time high of $4,956. To gauge whether professional desks anticipate further downside, one must analyze the options market.

When whales and market makers seek protection against price drops, the ETH options skew (put-call) typically rises above the 6% neutral mark. Extreme market stress can push this indicator past 15%.

ETH 30-day options skew (put-call) at Deribit. Source: Laevitas.ch

The ETH options skew reached 7% on Thursday after briefly touching neutral levels a day prior. This persistent skepticism among professional traders provides bears with the necessary leverage to fuel further uncertainty. Beyond external macro pressures, including US private credit losses and rising corporate layoffs, Ether continues to face its own idiosyncratic headwinds.

Ethereum is positioned to capture the pickup in DApps demand

Ethereum network activity has stagnated following a modest rally in early February. Consistent demand for blockchain utility remains essential for sustainable ETH price action and reducing inflationary pressure. The built-in burn mechanism of Ethereum depends on competition to enter the validation queue, a process typically fueled by decentralized exchange (DEX) activity.

Weekly DEX volumes and Ethereum DApps revenues, USD. Source: DefiLlama

Weekly DEX volumes on the Ethereum network recently hit $12.6 billion, falling from $20.2 billion one month prior. Decentralized application (DApp) revenues dropped to $14.1 million over seven days, marking a 47% decline from the previous month. Competing blockchains have seen a similar trend, as DEX volumes on Solana also decreased by 50% over the same 30-day window.

Related: Bitcoin trader sees ‘lower soon’ as BTC price starts to erase $74K breakout

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Despite the weak onchain metrics, ETH is well-positioned to capture an eventual pickup in DApp activity due to its dominance in total value locked (TVL). When including layer-2 scaling solutions, the Ethereum ecosystem accounts for nearly 65% of the total blockchain market TVL.

Related: 38% of altcoins near all-time lows, worse than FTX crash–Analyst

Total Value Locked (TVL) market share. Source: DefiLlama

The Ethereum base layer holds $55.4 billion in TVL, while its leading competitor Solana, accounts for $6.8 billion. This gap serves as evidence of a preference among institutional investors for decentralization over the lower fees and faster user experiences offered by networks like Solana and BNB Chain.

The current weakness in Ether derivatives and onchain metrics does not necessarily signal an imminent price crash. Market sentiment can shift quickly toward a sustained bullish momentum if ETH reclaims the $2,400 level. For the moment, the Ether price remains closely tied to the broader risk-off sentiment, which reduces the odds of a sustainable bullish momentum.