OCC Interpretive Letter 1170 is a specific Institutions coordinate in the Bitcoin knowledge graph. In practical terms, it identifies the subject described here: The 2020 U.S. banking interpretation confirming national banks may provide cryptocurrency custody services. This definition is narrower than promotional usage and should be read together with the implementation, date and evidence attached to the entry.
OCC Interpretive Letter 1170 is best understood as part of a system rather than as an isolated definition. Its related coordinates show the mechanisms, incentives and historical records that give the term practical meaning.
OCC Interpretive Letter 1170 belongs to the documented history and social layer around Bitcoin. Primary records can establish what was published, built or decided; motives, influence and later interpretation should remain separate from those verifiable facts.
Understanding OCC Interpretive Letter 1170 helps distinguish a verifiable Bitcoin mechanism or historical record from slogans, products and market narratives.
Primary or authoritative records make these details checkable: OCC Interpretive Letter 1170 concluded in July 2020 that national banks may provide cryptocurrency custody services, including holding cryptographic keys, subject to risk management, law and safe-and-sound practice. They should be verified before using the coordinate in analysis.
The practical limit is: the letter did not make every bank a custodian or insure crypto assets, and later letters changed supervisory procedure; current authority must be read with IL 1183, IL 1184 and applicable federal and state rules. A definition, office, chart pattern or published claim is not by itself a prediction or Bitcoin consensus rule.
For the clearest picture, read this entry together with Bank bitcoin custody, Institutional bitcoin custody, Qualified custodian, Bitcoin. The reverse links also lead from Bank bitcoin custody.