SoFi Breaks the Banking Barrier: The First U.S. Chartered Bank to Offer Crypto Trading

In a move that could redefine modern banking, SoFi has become the first nationally chartered U.S. bank to let customers buy, sell, and hold cryptocurrencies directly within its app — marking the clearest sign yet that Wall Street and Web3 are officially converging.

By CoinEpigraph Editorial Desk | November 12, 2025

A Line Banks Said They Would Never Cross

For decades, the banking establishment distanced itself from cryptocurrency — the asset class too volatile, too unregulated, and too politically radioactive for federally chartered institutions.

That changed this week.

SoFi Bank, N.A. has become the first nationally chartered bank in the United States to offer retail customers crypto trading directly from its own banking app. The company’s rollout, which includes Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and Solana (SOL), turns what was once a fintech experiment into a full-fledged precedent.

This is not a partnership. It’s not a separate subsidiary. It’s the bank itself.

The Mechanics of the Milestone

SoFi’s new crypto-enabled account framework allows users to purchase and custody digital assets inside the same interface where they manage deposits, loans, and stock portfolios.

According to filings and statements to Reuters and BusinessWire, the service sits within SoFi’s existing consumer banking infrastructure — regulated by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) and insured by the FDIC.

That distinction makes it unique.
Until now, U.S. banks either:

• Partnered with third-party exchanges, or
• Offered access through external investment arms.

SoFi has brought the exposure in-house, integrating it into the regulatory perimeter of a national bank charter.

The move follows months of dialogue with federal regulators after OCC guidance relaxed prohibitions on limited crypto asset activity for banks that meet capital and compliance standards.

Why This Changes the Banking Landscape

1. Bridging Two Incompatible Systems
SoFi’s leap signals the first true bridge between fiat banking and blockchain-based assets under one chartered umbrella.
Customers can now hold cash, stocks, and crypto under a unified compliance framework — something traditional banks like JPMorgan or Wells Fargo have yet to achieve.

2. Reputational Catalyst
By normalizing crypto inside a bank interface, SoFi may have just rebranded digital assets from fringe to familiar.
For regulators and retail investors alike, the optics of “crypto within a bank” are more powerful than any ETF launch.

3. Competitive Pressure
Large consumer banks may now face strategic pressure to follow suit. If SoFi can do it safely, why can’t others?
As one analyst put it to Barron’s:

“SoFi just converted crypto from a competitor to a feature.”

Regulatory Chess: The OCC’s Quiet Green Light

SoFi’s step was made possible by a subtle shift within the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), which now permits crypto-asset activity under controlled-risk conditions.

Key elements:

• Banks must demonstrate operational competence in custody and AML compliance.
• Crypto holdings must be segregated from insured deposits.
• No fractional or rehypothecated exposure allowed.

In other words, crypto can coexist with fiat — as long as it behaves like a service, not a speculative balance-sheet item.

This framework gives SoFi a first-mover advantage while preserving the regulatory firewall that keeps traditional depositors protected.

Implications for Markets and Institutions

A. Retail Access Redefined
Retail customers no longer need to choose between a bank and an exchange. This erodes Coinbase’s exclusive retail advantage and accelerates the “one-app finance” model.

B. Institutional Signal
By embedding crypto within its federally chartered structure, SoFi legitimizes the asset class in a way ETFs alone could not. The message to institutional allocators is clear: crypto has entered the insured system.

C. The Competitive Cascade
Expect challenger banks and neobanks — from Revolut to Chime — to lobby regulators for similar permissions.
Meanwhile, traditional banks will quietly test pilot programs behind the scenes to avoid being late to the inevitable convergence.

The Caveats: Trust, Custody, and Risk

With innovation comes exposure.
SoFi must prove it can manage the custody, cybersecurity, and liquidity risks that come with holding digital assets alongside traditional accounts.

• Volatility Risk: Crypto markets still move on emotional and speculative cycles.
• Regulatory Uncertainty: Shifts in Congress or future administrations could change policy stances on banks engaging in digital assets.
• Consumer Protection: The challenge will be ensuring customers understand the difference between FDIC-insured deposits and non-insured crypto holdings.

SoFi’s disclosures make that clear — but whether users absorb that distinction remains to be seen.

The Bigger Picture: Banking 3.0

SoFi’s announcement is more than a feature launch. It represents the next chapter in Banking 3.0 — where decentralized finance and regulated institutions merge into a hybrid model.

If the 2020s began with ETFs pulling crypto into Wall Street, the late decade may end with banks internalizing blockchain as the new transactional core.

SoFi’s decision will be remembered not just for its timing, but for what it signals:

The financial perimeter of the United States now includes crypto.

That reality reshapes both consumer expectations and regulatory philosophy — permanently.

At Coinepigraph, we pride ourselves on delivering cryptocurrency news with the utmost journalistic integrity and professionalism. Our dedicated team is committed to providing accurate, insightful, and unbiased reporting to keep you informed in the ever-evolving crypto landscape. Stay tuned as we expand our coverage to include new sections and thought-provoking op-eds, ensuring Coinepigraph remains your trusted source for all things crypto. -Ian Mayzberg Editor-in-Chief

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