World Liberty Bank Charter Review Continues Despite Warren Criticism

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) has confirmed that it will continue reviewing the application for a national banking charter submitted by the World Liberty Financial Institution (WLFI), despite strong objections from US Senator Elizabeth Warren.

Warren had urged the regulator to immediately stop the process, arguing that WLFI’s reported ties to President Donald Trump and his family raised serious concerns about political influence and the integrity of federal bank oversight. In response, OCC Comptroller Jonathan Gould said the agency is legally required to evaluate all charter applications according to current regulatory standards, regardless of political pressure.

BREAKING: 🇺🇸 US regulators have rejected Senator Elizabeth Warren’s request to suspend the review of World Liberty Financial’s banking charter.

The OCC says the process will remain apolitical and nonpartisan and will continue as normal. pic.twitter.com/ddNZ225uQb

–Conor Kenny (@conorfkenny) January 24, 2026

He stressed that the OCC charter process must remain apolitical and nonpartisan, adding that WLFI’s application will be subject to the same level of review as applied to previous filings. Warren rejected that explanation, calling the review a “sham” and accusing Gould, who serves at the pleasure of the president, of refusing to delay the process until Trump and his family divest from the company.

Regulatory Oversight Intensifies

The dispute comes as more crypto-focused companies seek to enter the traditional banking system by acquiring national banking charters. Companies such as Paxos, Circle and Ripple have already laid the groundwork, with Paxos applying for a license in mid-2025 and Ripple receiving conditional approval last December. These developments signal a broader shift in U.S. financial regulation as crypto companies aim to operate with the same legal status as established banks.

The OCC’s evolving position made this possible, following recent policy changes that allow banks to make it easier for customers to trade cryptocurrencies and hold digital assets such as Bitcoin, Ethereum and XRP, including using them to pay network transaction fees. Against this backdrop, World Liberty Bank’s application has become a flashpoint in the broader debate over crypto regulation, political influence, and the extent to which traditional banking rules should extend to the digital asset sector.

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