The regulatory landscape for cryptocurrencies in the United States is at a potential inflection point, with Ripple positioned at the center of two significant developments. The proposed Digital Asset Market CLARITY Act and ongoing high-level negotiations on stablecoin regulations could directly impact Ripple's ambition to obtain a national trust bank charter and the future utility of its native token, XRP.
Ripple has already submitted an application to establish the Ripple National Trust Bank (RNTB). This charter would allow it to operate as a trust service provider, not a conventional retail bank, but with far-reaching consequences. A successful charter could grant Ripple direct access to Federal Reserve payment rails, reducing reliance on intermediaries and significantly boosting its compliance status within the U.S. financial system. For XRP, this would mean deeper integration into regulated payment flows.
The CLARITY Act is seen as a key enabler for this process. The legislation aims to establish clear jurisdictional lines between the SEC and the CFTC and standardize the classification of digital assets. If signed into law, this regulatory clarity could eliminate hurdles that have delayed charter approvals, potentially smoothing the path for Ripple's RNTB application. As of February 12, 2026, the Act has not yet been signed, and its timing remains uncertain.
Simultaneously, Ripple's Chief Legal Officer, Stuart Alderoty, signaled that "compromise is in the air" following a productive White House meeting focused on stablecoin regulations. The meeting, attended by banks, crypto leaders, and U.S. Senate representatives, delved into specifics of how stablecoin rewards—highlighted in the CLARITY Act—could be structured under future rules.
Banks presented a set of principles designed to protect traditional structures, arguing that payment stablecoins should not offer yield to prevent deposit flight. However, a key concession was made as banks accepted language allowing for possible exemptions. This opens the door for transaction-based rewards under tightly defined conditions, which could influence how Ripple structures services for its upcoming stablecoin, RLUSD, and by extension, XRP.
The White House has urged parties to reach an agreement by March 1, 2026. The outcome of these negotiations will define permissible activities for crypto firms and shape the operational framework for the stablecoin market, directly affecting Ripple's cross-border payment services.
