Citi Brings Bitcoin Into Bank-Grade Custody With New Custody+ Platform
Citigroup said it expects to launch digital asset custody later in 2026, starting with Bitcoin, under its new Custody+ platform. Clients will access traditional and crypto custody within one framework built on the bank's common digital asset architecture.
Citi will launch Bitcoin custody later in 2026
Citigroup said on 18 August 2026 that it expects to go live with digital asset custody later this year, starting with Bitcoin. The bank made the announcement as it unveiled Custody+, a new suite of near- and real-time products from Citi Investor Services. Bitcoin will be the first cryptocurrency the service supports. Citi described the offering as a one-stop custody experience, letting institutional clients hold traditional and crypto assets within a single framework.
Custody+ bundles real-time services with crypto custody
Custody+ targets markets that are moving toward continuous trading and shorter settlement cycles. The platform adds real-time asset servicing, instant settlement, liquidity tools, and AI-powered market intelligence. Citi Investor Services runs the bank's post-trade platform across more than 100 markets, including a proprietary network in over 63 markets. Citi built the digital asset service on its common digital asset architecture, so crypto and traditional custody share one operating model.
Citi will hold native Bitcoin, not an ETF
Unlike models built around exchange-traded funds (ETFs), Citi plans to custody native Bitcoin directly. The bank will fold Bitcoin positions into the same risk, tax, and reporting workflows it uses for equities and bonds. Nisha Surendran, who leads Citi's digital asset custody product buildout, has described the effort as making Bitcoin bankable. Clients will instruct transactions through existing channels, such as messaging and interfaces, rather than managing wallets and keys themselves.
"Citi expects to go live with digital asset custody later this year, starting with the custody of Bitcoin. Clients will access traditional and crypto custody capabilities within the same framework for an integrated experience.", 18 August 2026. — Citi, official statement
Bitcoin traded near $64,000 at time of publication
Bitcoin traded at $64,054 at the time of publication, up 0.75% over the past 24 hours (CoinPaprika, 18 August 2026). The asset held a market capitalization near $1.29 trillion. That level sat about 49% below its record high of $126,173, reached on 6 October 2025 (CoinPaprika, 18 August 2026). Bitcoin remains the largest cryptocurrency by market value.
The announcement firms up a plan from 2025
Citi first disclosed in November 2025 that it planned to launch crypto custody in 2026 without a firm date. The 18 August statement sets a more concrete later-this-year timeline. Citi Securities Services reported about $35 trillion in assets under custody and administration as of the second quarter of 2026. That scale gives the bank broad reach across institutional clients as it moves into direct crypto custody.
Wall Street banks are expanding crypto custody
Citi's move follows a broader push by large banks into digital assets. According to CoinDesk, Morgan Stanley and JPMorgan are also expanding crypto and digital asset offerings. Clearer United States regulation has encouraged banks to build custody, trading, and tokenization services. Citi developed its crypto custody capability over several years before setting the 2026 launch window.
Cryptocurrencies are highly volatile and involve significant risk. You may lose part or all of your investment.
All information on Coinpaprika is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Always conduct your own research (DYOR) and consult a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions.
Coinpaprika is not liable for any losses resulting from the use of this information.