Sony Bank has taken a significant step toward entering the U.S. stablecoin market after receiving conditional approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to establish a national trust bank. The proposed entity, Connectia Trust, National Association, will be headquartered in New York and is expected to oversee the issuance and management of a U.S. dollar-denominated stablecoin, subject to final regulatory clearance.
Connectia Trust to Anchor Sony’s U.S. Stablecoin Strategy
The approval marks a milestone in Sony Financial Group’s broader digital asset strategy as the company seeks to expand beyond traditional banking services into regulated blockchain-based financial infrastructure. Connectia Trust will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Bank and provide stablecoin issuance, trust, and digital asset custody services once authorized to begin operations.
- $40 million – Initial capital allocated for Connectia Trust.
- 100% – Ownership stake to be held by Sony Bank in the U.S. trust subsidiary.
- 2027 – Target year for commercial operations, pending final regulatory approval.
Although the OCC has granted conditional approval, Connectia Trust cannot begin business immediately. The subsidiary must first satisfy the regulator’s remaining supervisory, operational, and compliance requirements before receiving authorization to launch its services. The approval therefore represents a preliminary regulatory milestone rather than a final operating license.
Stablecoin Expansion Awaits Final Regulatory Clearance
Sony Bank first submitted its application for a U.S. national trust bank charter in October 2025. The company said the establishment of Connectia Trust is intended to strengthen the long-term business foundation of Sony Financial Group’s digital asset operations. Earlier plans also indicated that the stablecoin could support payments across Sony’s digital ecosystem, including gaming, subscriptions, and other online services.
The development comes as interest in federally regulated stablecoins continues to grow in the United States. Several financial institutions and digital asset companies have pursued OCC trust bank charters as policymakers work toward a comprehensive regulatory framework for stablecoin issuers. Sony’s approval places the Japanese financial group among the latest firms positioning themselves to operate within the evolving U.S. digital asset regulatory landscape.
Coinbase received OCC approval to expand its U.S. crypto custody services through a national trust bank. The move reflects a broader trend of major firms securing federal trust charters to strengthen their digital asset operations. Sony’s conditional approval further highlights the growing institutional adoption of regulated crypto infrastructure.
Sony Deepens Its Web3 Investments
Recently, Sony Innovation Fund co-led Startale Group’s $63 million Series A funding round, strengthening its presence in the Web3 ecosystem. The investment followed Sony’s broader push into blockchain, including its Soneium network and stablecoin initiatives. Together, these moves highlight Sony’s expanding commitment to regulated digital assets and Web3 infrastructure.
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