The U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) has told national banks they can buy and sell crypto assets held in custody on behalf of customers, and that they’re allowed to outsource these services to external providers.

Revolut, the London-based digital bank, is preparing to launch bitcoin payments using the Lightning Network for customers in the U.K. and parts of Europe.

Stripe is rolling out stablecoin-powered accounts to merchants in over 100 countries, doubling the number of markets it serves. The move gives businesses the option to hold funds and settle payments using USDC from Circle and Stripe’s own USDB, a stablecoin issued through its Bridge unit.

Top stories in the Crypto Roundup today:

• US Regulator Clears Banks to Trade Customers' Crypto Held in Custody
• Revolut to Launch Bitcoin Lightning Payments in Europe Using Lightspark
• Stripe Expands Stablecoin Accounts to Over 100 Countries, Doubling Global Reach

US Regulator Clears Banks to Trade Customers' Crypto Held in Custody

The U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) has told national banks they can buy and sell crypto assets held in custody on behalf of customers, and that they’re allowed to outsource these services to external providers.

In letters sent Wednesday, the OCC clarified that banks can move forward with crypto services without seeking specific permission from the regulator — a reversal from earlier policy. 

Under the new guidance, banks can also rely on third-party providers for crypto custody and trade execution. That opens the door for more collaboration between banks and crypto-native firms — such as those specializing in digital asset storage or smart contract infrastructure — which could accelerate the integration of crypto into mainstream finance.

Revolut to Launch Bitcoin Lightning Payments in Europe Using Lightspark

Revolut, the London-based digital bank, is preparing to launch bitcoin payments using the Lightning Network for customers in the U.K. and parts of Europe.

The integration will be powered by Lightspark, a payments infrastructure firm led by former PayPal executive David Marcus. Built on top of the Bitcoin blockchain, the Lightning Network enables near-instant payments with much lower fees than standard on-chain transactions. 

Revolut’s upcoming feature will let users move BTC more quickly and affordably by bypassing the slower base layer.

“Integrating with Lightspark is a natural step,” said Emil Urmanshin, Revolut’s general manager for crypto. “We’re always looking to make financial services faster and more affordable — and their approach to global transactions enables us to do exactly that.”

Revolut didn’t specify when the Lightning feature will go live.

Stripe Expands Stablecoin Accounts to Over 100 Countries, Doubling Global Reach

Stripe is rolling out stablecoin-powered accounts to merchants in over 100 countries, doubling the number of markets it serves. The move gives businesses the option to hold funds and settle payments using USDC from Circle and Stripe’s own USDB, a stablecoin issued through its Bridge unit.

The accounts are designed to make cross-border transactions easier for companies by offering stable, crypto-based payment rails alongside traditional ones. Previously available in just 50 countries, Stripe accounts can now hold balances in British pounds, euros and U.S. dollars. 

The stablecoin support is expected to help companies in emerging markets avoid local currency volatility and slow banking systems.

“This is a new product but it’s an opportunity for us over time to deliver much more safety,” said Stripe co-founder John Collison, citing challenges like invoice fraud and phishing in existing payment systems. Ramp, a corporate card provider, is among the first partners to tap into the new system. 

It plans to launch cards backed by stablecoin wallets, enabling faster settlement and lower transaction costs. Stripe’s Bridge platform will handle the conversions, with Visa providing payment rail integrations.

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