Will Sony Bank's crypto charter redefine stablecoins?

TL;DR: Sony Bank is making major moves in the U.S. crypto world. Its subsidiary Connectia Trust has filed for a national trust banking charter to issue USD-pegged stablecoins, hold reserves, and provide custody and digital asset management services under U.S. federal oversight.
For companies that want funding, this opens new paths for partnership, investment, and leveraging tomorrow’s crypto framework today.

What Sony Bank’s Connectia Trust Charter Means for the Industry

Sony Bank, part of the Sony Financial Group, has officially submitted an application with the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) via its subsidiary Connectia Trust, N.A. If approved, Connectia Trust will be allowed to issue U.S. dollar-pegged stablecoins, manage stablecoin reserve assets, and offer custody plus asset-management services for digital assets. Sony Bank files for a U.S. bank charter to launch stablecoin and custody services

This isn’t just about crypto buzz. It reflects a broader regulatory trend. With laws such as the GENIUS Act giving clearer stablecoin frameworks, firms are now competing to secure federal trust charters. Sony joins firms like Coinbase, Stripe, Circle, and Ripple in this race. Sony Bank pursuit of OCC charter, stablecoin issuance, regulatory innovation, market implications

Why Issuing Stablecoins Matters to Backers and VCs

When a company issues stablecoins, especially through a regulated chartered institution:

You get full reserve backing, typically in cash or Treasuries — reducing risk. Sony seeks U.S. bank license to issue its own stablecoin
There's legal clarity — rules from the OCC and acts like GENIUS require disclosure, redemption rights, oversight.
Enhanced market trust — institutional partners feel safer engaging with entities that play by regulated financial rules.

From a VC funding standpoint, supporting stablecoin issuance via a trust charter can mean lower legal risk, clearer compliance path, and access to scalable financial services in digital assets.

Custody & Asset Management: The New Core Services

Connectia Trust won’t just issue stablecoins. Key services include:

Non-fiduciary custody of digital assets for clients. Panewslab: fiduciary asset management for affiliates or related entities
Fiduciary asset management for affiliates or related entities.
Holding and managing reserve assets to back stablecoins.

These services are becoming must-have for any company in the crypto space. If you’re raising funding, showing capacity in custody or reserve management can be a big advantage.

Who Else Is Applying & What That Means for Your Fundraising Strategy

Sony isn’t alone. Other players seeking similar charters:

Circle (proposed First National Digital Currency Bank) applying for U.S. federal trust charter. Circle coverage on the crypto-banking race
Coinbase, Stripe, Ripple, each chasing eligibility for national charters to provide issuance and custody services. Circle coverage on the crypto-banking race
Anchorage Digital Bank is currently the only crypto-native bank with full OCC charter. Anchorage coverage on the OCC charter landscape

For investors, this means a competitive environment. You may want to back companies that already started legal and regulatory groundwork. The earlier those are in place, the lower the risk.

Regulatory Landscape: What’s Changed (and What Still Needs Clarity)

What’s More Secure Now

GENIUS Act mandates stablecoin issuers are banks (or subsidiaries) and hold safe reserve assets. GENIUS Act & OCC context
OCC’s permissive stance—Interpretive Letter 1183 confirms national banks can issue stablecoins, custody, etc., so long as safety and risk controls are met. GENIUS Act & OCC context

What Still Needs Fine-Tuning

How consumer protection works for stablecoin holders at trust banks.
Auditing frequency and verifiability of reserves.
How “non-fiduciary custody” interacts with money-transmitters or securities law.
Impact of state-level licensing (e.g., New York’s BitLicense) on cross-state or national expansion.

Real-World Examples: How Companies Are Using Digital Bank Charters

Circle plans to use its trust charter to manage USDC reserves directly. Circle coverage on the charter race
Anchorage Digital Bank merges fiat services with crypto wallet & custody under its full OCC charter. Anchorage coverage on crypto-banking race
Sony might use Connectia Trust to enable internal cross-company payments, integrating stablecoins into gaming, media, and entertainment ecosystems. Sony seeks U.S. bank license

For you, that means any business that handles payments, gaming, media, marketplaces could use these regulated vehicles to improve efficiency and lower costs.

Funding Implications: What Investors Should Look For

When evaluating companies going this route, here’s what to focus on:

✔ Clear regulatory path & filings: Check if an OCC Charter / Trust Bank filing is underway. Sony filed October 2025 with OCC. Sony Bank files for U.S. bank charter
✔ reserve management & audit plans: Are reserves audited, publicly attested, fully backed with cash/Treasuries?
✔ tech stack & security: Custody requires high security, cold storage, multi-sig infrastructure.
✔ use case & tokenomics: Are stablecoins being used for internal payments, open financial rails, or just experimental? That determines scale.
✔ partnerships & market positioning: Partners in payments, fintechs, or regulated finance amplify reach.

Risks Companies and Funders Should Know

Regulatory shifts: laws or administrations can change rules or enforcement.
Reserve shortfalls: if audits fail, backlash could be big.
Market risk: stablecoins compete heavily; you need real differentiation.
Competition: many firms are applying. Outcomes for charters uncertain.

FAQ: Companies Seeking Funding & Sony’s Charter

Q: Does Sony’s application being under review mean it’s approved?
A: No. As of October 10-16, 2025, the filing is still pending OCC approval. Sony Bank files for U.S. bank charter

Q: If approved, how soon will Sony start issuance?
A: It’s unclear. Charter approval can take months. Once granted, reserve setup, security, tech and compliance need to be in place before issuing coins.

Q: Can smaller companies without Sony’s scale benefit?
A: Absolutely. Small to mid-size players can partner with chartered entities (white-label stablecoins), or aim to secure charters themselves, especially with emergent regulations. Funders should look to support early groundwork.

Q: How does this impact venture capital?
A: Investors get opportunity for earlier entry into regulated digital assets. Funding for compliance, legal, infrastructure is key. Valuations may hinge on who secures official charters first.

By filing for a U.S. national trust banking charter through Connectia Trust, Sony is positioning itself squarely in the regulated stablecoin and digital asset services space. If you’re a company seeking funding, this shift signals that investors will increasingly favor those who move early — build compliance, secure charters, and integrate stablecoins with custody services. If you’d like help assessing whether your business is ready or positioning your pitch to attract funding under this new framework, I’d be happy to connect.