Ripple secures OCC bank approval, XRP tests $1.30 ahead of Swell

Ripple gains federal bank approval

Ripple, a payment technology company known for its XRP-powered payment solutions, secured final approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) on October 26, 2026, for its new national trust bank. CEO Brad Garlinghouse stated that this authorization establishes a federally supervised trust platform designed to support RLUSD reserves and offer enterprise-grade digital asset custody.

Ripple’s new federally chartered institution will operate under direct regulatory oversight, creating additional assurance for enterprise and institutional clients seeking compliant crypto solutions. Garlinghouse welcomed the decision, emphasizing the growing synergy between the crypto sector and the traditional banking system, especially in advance of the annual Ripple Swell conference.

A major development for Ripple as the OCC grants final approval for the Ripple National Trust Bank, allowing the company to provide a federally supervised platform for RLUSD support and enterprise digital asset custody.

While the federal bank approval marks a significant regulatory milestone, analysts cautioned that this does not automatically result in greater demand for XRP. RLUSD, Ripple’s regulated US dollar stablecoin, and XRP fulfill different functions within the company ecosystem, so increased interest in stablecoin custody or reserves does not directly equal increased XRP token purchases.

Market analyst Matthew Dixon described the regulatory breakthrough as a potential boost for XRP sentiment. He noted that a confirmed break above the token’s ongoing downward trendline could indicate renewed bullish momentum, but said technical confirmation is still needed.

Mini dictionary: The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) is a bureau of the US Treasury that regulates and supervises national banks and federal savings associations to ensure the safety and soundness of the US banking system.

Whale holdings and supply concentration

Blockchain analytics firm Santiment reported that wallets with at least 10 million XRP now control 46.87 billion tokens, representing approximately 68.5% of the total XRP supply. This marks the highest recorded concentration in these large wallets since November 2022.

The trend suggests that major holders have maintained or increased their exposure despite XRP trading around $1.29. Santiment noted that wallet concentration does not necessarily indicate active buying by whales, as some holdings may represent assets custodied for other clients or long-term positions that have not moved in recent months.

Analysts highlighted $1.30 as a near-term resistance level for XRP, with $1.50 seen as the next key target for confirming a sustained recovery. On the downside, $1.25 serves as a pivotal support level, and losing this floor could open the way for further declines toward $1.05.

XRP market outlook ahead of Ripple Swell

The upcoming Ripple Swell conference, scheduled soon after the OCC approval, is viewed as a potential catalyst that could influence investor sentiment. However, analysts noted that previous Swell events have not guaranteed sustained price rallies and urged caution against relying solely on conference-driven moves.

Dixon reiterated that a clear technical breakout above the descending trendline would validate a recovery scenario, while further rejection at resistance may prolong the ongoing correction phase.

For now, Ripple’s regulatory progress with its federally supervised bank supports positive market sentiment as whale wallet accumulation remains strong. Nonetheless, confirmation will depend on buyers successfully pushing XRP above $1.30 and toward $1.50 without breaching crucial support zones.