James Richardson
World Liberty Financial, the decentralized finance platform backed by U.S. President Donald Trump, has taken a major step toward regulatory expansion by forming a new trust entity aimed at securing a U.S. national banking license.
The move signals a growing push to integrate stablecoins more deeply into the traditional financial system under federal oversight.
According to a statement released Wednesday, WLTC Holdings LLC has submitted a de novo application to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to establish World Liberty Trust Company, National Association (WLTC).
If approved, the charter would create a national trust bank specifically designed for stablecoin operations, positioning WLTC to issue and manage USD1, World Libertyโs dollar-pegged stablecoin.
World Liberty joins a growing list of crypto and fintech companies seeking federal trust bank status. In December, the OCC issued conditional approvals to firms including Circle, Ripple, BitGo, Fidelity Digital Assets, and Paxos. Other major platforms such as Coinbase and Crypto.com have also submitted applications.
This trend reflects increasing demand for regulated, bank-like infrastructure within the digital asset industry.
USD1 Stablecoin at the Center of the Strategy
World Liberty co-founder Zach Witkoff, who is slated to serve as president and chairman of the proposed trust company, described the application as a major milestone for the ecosystem.
He noted that USD1 has grown faster in its first year than any stablecoin in history, with institutions already using it for cross-border payments, settlement, and treasury management. A national trust charter would allow World Liberty to unify issuance, custody, and conversion under a single, highly regulated entity.
Planned Services Under Federal Oversight
If granted approval, World Liberty Trust Company plans to operate under full federal supervision, offering three primary services:
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Stablecoin issuance and redemption
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On-ramp and off-ramp services
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Custody and asset conversion
The trust company will focus on institutional clients, including cryptocurrency exchanges, market makers, and investment firms.
Regulatory Tailwinds From the GENIUS Act
The application comes amid a more defined regulatory environment for digital assets. In July, President Trump signed the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act, marking the first major crypto framework enacted into U.S. law.
The legislation laid the groundwork for federally regulated stablecoin issuers and trust institutions.
World Libertyโs Rapid Growth and Trump Family Ties
World Liberty launched in October 2024, publicly naming President Trump and his three sons โ Donald Jr., Eric, and Baron โ as co-founders. The protocol introduced the USD1 stablecoin in March 2025.
USD1 is fully backed by U.S. dollars and short-duration U.S. Treasury holdings, maintained at regulated depository institutions. According to the company, the stablecoin surpassed $3.3 billion in circulation within its first year, underscoring strong institutional demand.
What This Means for Stablecoins in the U.S.
By pursuing a national trust bank charter, World Liberty is positioning itself at the intersection of DeFi innovation and traditional financial regulation. Approval would mark another step toward mainstream adoption of stablecoins within the U.S. banking system โ with USD1 potentially emerging as a regulated alternative for institutional-grade digital dollar usage.
