World Liberty Financial project receives a key regulatory boost in the United States
Donald Trump's family crypto project World Liberty Financial (WLF) has taken a significant step toward obtaining national trust bank status. Co-founder Zach Witkoff confirmed that the license application is in its final review stage at the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). As of January 6, 2026, World Liberty Trust Company, N.A. appears on the regulator's official website in the list of pending approvals.
Obtaining this license will fundamentally change WLF's operational capabilities. If approved, the entity will have the right to issue and redeem the USD1 stablecoin, manage its reserves, and provide custodial services for digital assets to institutional clients. This will transform WLF from a purely decentralized protocol into a fully regulated financial intermediary.
The USD1 reserve management mechanism deserves special attention. According to announced plans, funds will be held in dollar accounts at banks, in money market funds backed by U.S. government bonds, and in highly liquid cash equivalents. This conservative approach to stablecoin backing aligns with best practices in traditional finance and could set a precedent for other crypto projects seeking institutional trust.
Analytical commentary: Registering a trust company with the OCC is not just a formality but a strategic move that could radically change market perceptions of stablecoins. If WLF successfully integrates USD1 into the U.S. banking infrastructure, competitors like USDC and USDT will face a new, politically backed player. However, it is worth remembering that the path from conditional approval to full operation may take months, and the project itself remains closely tied to its founder's political career, adding an element of uncertainty.