World Liberty Financial Seeks U.S. National Trust Charter to Issue USD1 Stablecoin

World Liberty Financial, a cryptocurrency firm closely associated with U.S. President Donald Trump, has applied for a national trust charter with the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to establish World Liberty Trust Company. If approved, the charter would allow the company to directly issue its U.S. dollar-pegged stablecoin, USD1, and operate under a federally regulated banking framework.

According to a company press release, World Liberty Trust Company would handle the full lifecycle of the USD1 stablecoin, including issuance, custody, minting, redemption, and conversion services. The proposed trust would also enable institutional clients to convert other stablecoins into USD1, positioning the firm as a comprehensive provider of stablecoin infrastructure. Target customers include cryptocurrency exchanges, market makers, investment firms, and other institutional participants seeking regulated digital asset services.

World Liberty Financial has deep ties to President Trump. The company lists Trump as “co-founder emeritus,” while his three sons are named as co-founders. Ownership also includes DT Marks DEFI LLC, an entity controlled by Trump and his family, further underscoring the political connection that has drawn significant attention to the firm’s regulatory ambitions.

The OCC has previously approved national trust charters for several major crypto and financial firms, including Circle, Ripple, Fidelity Digital Assets, BitGo, and Paxos. Regulatory attitudes toward crypto banking shifted notably after Trump returned to office, following a more cautious stance during the Biden administration. Jonathan Gould, appointed by Trump as comptroller of the currency, assumed leadership of the OCC last summer and has overseen a more accommodative approach to digital assets.

World Liberty co-founder Zach Witkoff said the charter application represents a major step forward for the company. If approved, he would serve as president and chairman of the trust company. Witkoff claimed USD1 experienced faster first-year growth than any stablecoin in history and is already being used for cross-border payments, settlements, and treasury operations.

Stablecoins in the U.S. now fall broadly under the GENIUS Act, signed into law last year, although detailed regulatory frameworks are still being finalized. Meanwhile, lawmakers continue to debate how stablecoin yield and broader crypto market structure should be regulated, with key legislative votes expected soon.