Crypto Startup Erebor Becomes First US Bank of Trump’s Term

Erebor Bank, a crypto‑friendly financial startup backed by tech investors including Palmer Luckey and Joe Lonsdale, has become the first new national bank chartered in the US during President Trump’s second term, the Wall Street Journal reported. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) approved the charter less than eight months after application, allowing Erebor to operate nationwide. The bank aims to serve technology firms in crypto, artificial intelligence, defense, and manufacturing, helping fill funding gaps left after Silicon Valley Bank’s collapse. It has also secured FDIC deposit insurance and plans to offer traditional banking alongside services tailored to emerging industries.