Deutsche Bank close to debuting crypto custody for institutions

Deutsche Bank said it intends to introduce a regulated custody service for digital assets aimed at institutional and corporate clients in Europe, with a planned launch by the end of 2026 contingent on completing applicable regulatory checks. The bank said the initial offering will cover a limited set of cryptocurrencies, explicitly naming bitcoin and ether as well as stablecoins such as USDC and EURC. The bank framed digital assets as complementary to existing financial infrastructure rather than a replacement, noting the service will be developed according to client demand, regulatory requirements and the firm’s risk appetite. Gerald Podobnik, co-head of Deutsche Bank’s corporate bank, provided those remarks in the announcement. Deutsche Bank has been reported to have been preparing the custody service alongside crypto exchange Bitpanda, a development first reported in July. The move places Germany’s largest bank alongside other European lenders that have already launched regulated custody offerings, including Standard Chartered and BBVA. Industry observers say institutions and corporates adopting digital assets often prefer custody from established financial firms with which they already have relationships. By entering the custody market, Deutsche Bank aims to capture demand from clients seeking regulated solutions within the traditional banking environment.