tl;dr
Stripe is applying for a federal banking charter to support its stablecoin ambitions under the GENIUS Act, while launching Open Issuance—a tool enabling businesses to create AI-driven digital assets with minimal effort.
**Stripe Seeks Federal Banking Charter to Bolster Stablecoin Ambitions, Launches AI-Driven Platform for Businesses**
Payments giant Stripe is taking a major step into the cryptocurrency space, reportedly applying for a federal banking charter with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to support its plans for stablecoins. The move comes as the company aims to navigate new regulatory frameworks and expand its offerings in the evolving digital economy.
According to a report by *The Information*, Stripe’s application for a banking charter is tied to compliance with the recently enacted GENIUS Act, a federal law that provides regulatory clarity for stablecoins. The legislation, signed into law by President Donald Trump earlier this year, is designed to create a structured environment for stablecoins—cryptocurrencies pegged to traditional assets like the U.S. dollar. By securing a charter, Stripe positions itself to continue offering dollar-pegged digital assets as the law takes effect.
In tandem with its regulatory efforts, Stripe announced the launch of **Open Issuance**, a new tool that empowers businesses to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) and stablecoins to create and manage their own digital assets. The platform allows companies to issue and oversee dollar-pegged tokens with minimal technical effort, requiring only a few lines of code.
Will Gaybrick, Stripe’s president of technology and business, emphasized the company’s vision for the future:
*“Across stablecoins and AI, Stripe’s role is to pull frontier technology out of the experimental and into the mainstream. With the advent of stablecoins and AI, we’re at the dawn of a new online economy. And we’re relentlessly focused on channeling its many opportunities to help our customers grow.”*
The Open Issuance tool has already attracted attention from major players in the crypto ecosystem. Prominent wallets like **MetaMask**, **Phantom**, and the decentralized exchange (DEX) protocol **Hyperliquid (HYPE)** are reportedly using the service. Stripe highlighted that the platform will further expand the stablecoin landscape, aiming to make it *“as big as possible.”*
Despite its ambitious plans, Stripe has clarified that it has no intention of launching its own proprietary stablecoin. Neetika Bansal, Stripe’s business lead for connect, money management, and crypto, stated, *“We’re focused on enabling others to innovate, not creating our own.”*
The move underscores Stripe’s broader strategy to position itself as a bridge between traditional finance and the decentralized web. By combining AI-driven tools with stablecoin infrastructure, the company is tapping into the growing demand for seamless, regulated digital assets.
As the crypto industry continues to mature, Stripe’s efforts reflect a pivotal moment: the convergence of regulatory compliance, technological innovation, and enterprise adoption. With its banking charter application and Open Issuance platform, Stripe is not just adapting to the future of money—it’s helping shape it.