Ripple’s OCC Certification Leak Sparks Speculation, Is an XRP Bank Launch Coming This October?

In early October 2025, the XRP community was set abuzz by leaked documents suggesting Ripple may be preparing to launch its own bank. The documents, connected to the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), appeared to show signatures from Ripple executives approving steps toward a national banking license. The leak quickly became one of the most discussed topics in crypto, with excitement, confusion, and skepticism spreading across online forums.

For years, Ripple has been known for using its cryptocurrency, XRP, to power cross-border payments and connect traditional finance with blockchain technology. After several legal challenges and partial victories against the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Ripple’s next move could mark a major turning point not just for the company but for how crypto fits into mainstream banking.

The leaked OCC documents, dated June 30, 2025, show signatures from Ripple’s Chief Legal Officer, Stuart Alderoty, and Senior Advisor Timothy Keaney, who previously worked at Citi. The documents appear to confirm that Ripple has submitted paperwork to comply with U.S. banking laws a necessary step in obtaining a national bank charter. If the documents are legitimate, they could indicate that Ripple is planning to launch a regulated “Ripple Bank” as early as October 2025. This would mean Ripple could offer full banking services under U.S. supervision while integrating XRP as a core part of its operations. This development also aligns with another important timeline, several XRP spot Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) applications are awaiting SEC decisions in the same month. If both the bank license and ETF approvals happen around the same time, the impact on XRP’s price and adoption could be significant.

What OCC Certification Means

To understand the weight of this leak, it’s helpful to look at what OCC certification actually involves. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency is a U.S. regulator that oversees national banks and ensures they follow federal laws. Gaining OCC approval means a company can legally operate as a national bank, handle deposits, and provide financial services in a regulated environment.

 

Term	Meaning	Why It Matters for Ripple
OCC Certification	U.S. government approval to operate a national bank	Would allow Ripple to run a regulated bank integrated with XRP
National Bank Charter	A license to offer traditional banking services	Could help Ripple expand beyond payments into lending, deposits, and institutional finance
XRP ETF	Exchange-Traded Fund based on XRP	Could bring institutional investors and new liquidity to XRP markets

 

If Ripple’s certification moves forward, it would make the company one of the first crypto-focused entities to bridge blockchain and traditional banking under U.S. law.

The leak quickly divided the crypto community. Supporters saw it as confirmation that Ripple is finally moving into a regulated, mainstream role. One XRP analyst on YouTube described the documents as “the final piece of the puzzle,” claiming that a Ripple bank could push XRP to $5 or higher if launched successfully.

 

 

Others, however, took a more cautious tone. Some warned that leaked documents do not equal final approval. One forum user summarized the skepticism bluntly: “Until the OCC confirms it, it’s just paperwork and paperwork doesn’t move markets.” This mix of hope and doubt reflects a common pattern in crypto: major leaks can generate excitement and speculation, but without official confirmation, they remain uncertain.

If Ripple successfully launches a bank, it could dramatically change how people view crypto companies. Instead of being seen as startups competing with banks, Ripple could become a licensed financial institution that uses blockchain as part of its core operations. This move would allow it to serve both retail and institutional clients, process international transfers, and potentially use XRP as a settlement asset for real-time banking transactions.

Market Impact on XRP and Future Outlook

Speculation over Ripple’s banking move has already affected market sentiment. Some analysts predict that if Ripple confirms the launch in October, XRP could rise to between $4 and $5 in the short term. However, if the certification is delayed or denied, prices might fall back to around $2.50 due to disappointed expectations. Looking ahead to 2026, analysts suggest a best-case scenario where Ripple’s banking services expand internationally, integrating tokenized assets and traditional financial products. In that scenario, XRP could reach $10 or more, depending on global adoption and ETF inflows.

Of course, risks remain. If the documents turn out to be outdated, incomplete, or misinterpreted, the excitement could quickly fade, causing another sharp correction in the XRP market. The leaked OCC certification documents have sparked one of the biggest debates in the crypto world this year. Whether Ripple truly launches a bank in October or not, the event highlights how far blockchain companies have come from being outsiders to potentially becoming part of the regulated financial system.

If Ripple secures the license, it would mark a historic step for crypto adoption, showing that digital assets can operate safely under government oversight. If not, the conversation itself still proves one thing, the future of finance is no longer just traditional or digital it’s both.