BitGo Becomes the First Public, Federally Chartered Digital Asset Infrastructure Company

WHY THIS MATTERS: This dual achievement marks a pivotal moment in the maturation of the digital asset economy. Beyond a simple public listing, the receipt of a federal charter to operate as a national trust bank establishes an unprecedented standard of oversight for crypto custody and infrastructure providers. For institutional finance—asset managers, corporate treasuries, and exchanges—this provides the necessary blueprint for compliant, large-scale participation. The move signals that the industry’s next phase will be defined by trust, transparency, and resilience, which are non-negotiable for traditional players. By aligning itself with both the governance of a publicly traded company and the regulatory rigor of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, BitGo has effectively created a new, higher benchmark for institutional adoption in the United States, proving that regulated, institutional-grade infrastructure is no longer the exception, but the new default

BitGo Holdings, Inc., (NYSE: BTGO) the digital asset infrastructure company, announced that it has become the first publicly traded, federally chartered digital asset infrastructure company, following its initial public offering and related listing on the New York Stock Exchange on January 22, 2026 and the receipt of final approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to operate as a national trust bank.

The dual milestones position BitGo at the highest level of regulatory standing in the digital asset industry and reflect a broader shift toward regulated, institution-grade infrastructure as digital assets continue to integrate into global financial markets.

BitGo’s federal charter enables the company to provide regulated custody, wallet infrastructure, settlement, and related digital asset services to clients across all 50 U.S. states under a single national regulatory framework, while its public listing increases transparency, governance, and long-term accountability to customers, partners, and shareholders.

“Becoming a public company and a federally chartered national trust bank represents the culmination of more than a decade of building regulated, institutional-grade digital asset infrastructure,” said Mike Belshe, Chief Executive Officer of BitGo. “This is not just a milestone for BitGo, it is a milestone for the industry. Digital assets are entering a new era where trust, regulation, and resilience are foundational, and BitGo is proud to help set that standard.”

Since its founding in 2013, BitGo has focused on building core infrastructure for the digital asset economy, serving institutional clients including asset managers, exchanges, platforms, protocol foundations, and corporate treasuries. The company provides custody, wallet infrastructure, trading and financing services, settlement, stablecoins, and staking for the top brands and institutions in the world.

The combination of public-company governance and federal banking oversight further strengthens BitGo’s role as a long-term infrastructure provider for institutions seeking compliant and scalable access to digital assets.

“Traditional finance operates on regulated, neutral infrastructure that persists across market cycles,” added Mike Belshe. “Our mission has always been to build the equivalent for digital assets. These milestones reinforce that the industry is maturing and that regulated infrastructure is becoming the default, not the exception.”

BitGo plans to continue investing in product expansion, security, regulatory capabilities, and global growth to support the next phase of institutional and enterprise adoption.

FF NEWS TAKE: This development decisively moves the needle, creating a clear regulatory floor for competitors and reducing perceived risk for major financial institutions. It provides a credible, federally supervised foundation for integrating digital assets into existing systems. We are now watching how rapidly this new benchmark for trust accelerates the timelines of large banks and traditional asset managers who have been hesitant to fully enter the market. The next indicator of success will be the pace at which competitors either pursue similar charters or consolidate to meet this heightened level of regulatory standing.