Is Sony The Next Crypto Bank? Tech Giant Applies For A National Charter In The US

Sony is making strides to enter the crypto banking sector through its financial arm, Sony Bank, as the Japanese group has recently submitted an application to US regulators for a national banking charter via its subsidiary, Connectia Trust. 

This move signifies Sony’s intent to engage in various cryptocurrency-related activities, which include the issuance of US dollar-backed stablecoins, maintaining reserves, and providing custody and fiduciary management services for digital assets to select clients.

Sony Seeks OCC Approval For Crypto Banking License

In its national banking charter filing with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), Sony emphasized that its proposed activities align with those already approved for other nationally chartered banks. 

Should the application be granted, Sony would join a select group of firms, including Stripe, crypto exchange Coinbase (COIN), Paxos, and stablecoin issuer Circle (CRCL), all of which are also pursuing federal crypto banking licenses. Currently, Anchorage Digital Bank is the only entity to have received full approval.

If Connectia Trust secures approval from the OCC, it could emerge as one of the first major tech-bank hybrids authorized to issue regulated stablecoins in the United States. 

Strengthening Digital Asset Presence

This venture into the digital asset space is not Sony’s first. Earlier in 2025, the company collaborated with Startale Labs to introduce Soneiun, an Ethereum Layer-2 )L2) network tailored to enhance decentralized applications. 

Now, with Connectia Trust, Sony is poised to synergize its financial expertise with blockchain technology, thereby expanding its footprint in the global digital asset ecosystem. 

Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com