Payward (Kraken)

Payward, the parent company of cryptocurrency exchange Kraken, filed an application with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency for a national trust company charter. The application covers fiduciary custody and other services primarily for digital assets. A national trust company charter would establish a federally regulated custody offering under OCC oversight.

Payward stated the charter would expand access for institutional clients who require a federally regulated qualified custodian. It would also enable the company to serve a broader range of clients across the United States. The filing reflects a growing pattern of crypto firms pursuing direct federal charters for custody operations.