Just heard that Ripple has submitted its application for a U.S. banking license for public review.

That's actually a pretty big step, considering where the company was just a few years ago.

The entire process is handled through the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, or OCC.
Ripple plans to operate as a trust bank under a national banking license – that's much more than just being a crypto exchange.

Brian Spahn, the Senior Director of Regulatory Compliance at Ripple Labs, is the contact person for the application, and Paul Hastings LLP is handling the legal representation.

What interests me here: This shows that Ripple is really trying to bring blockchain technology into the traditional financial world.
Not just staying as a crypto startup, but acting as a fully regulated institution.

The public review is now a critical phase – this is the point where the market and regulators are really watching to see if this can work.

This could become interesting for the entire industry.
If Ripple gets through with a real banking license, it could set a precedent.
Other projects might follow, and the lines between traditional banking and crypto will become even more blurred.

Definitely a topic to keep an eye on.