UniCredit seeks infrastructure partner for crypto trading, custody: Report

UniCredit is looking for a technology partner to help build infrastructure for digital asset trading, custody and access to tokenized investment products, according to people cited by Bloomberg. The bank's talks are at an early stage and cover capabilities such as crypto custody, brokerage and stablecoin-based fixed-income securities.

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UniCredit seeks infrastructure partner for crypto trading, custody: Report

Why It Matters

If UniCredit moves forward it would join a growing number of major banks developing crypto and tokenization services, a trend that includes stablecoin payments and institutional trading offerings already being rolled out by other global lenders.

Key Facts

Bank: UniCredit
Source of report: People familiar with the matter speaking to Bloomberg
Scope of search: Technology provider to build infrastructure for digital asset trading, custody, and tokenized investment products
Areas of interest: Crypto custody, brokerage capabilities, tokenized investment products, stablecoin-based fixed-income securities
Stage: Discussions are in early stages

UniCredit is exploring options to partner with a technology provider that could underpin trading, custody and tokenized investment product offerings for digital assets, people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg. The initiative would involve building technical infrastructure to give the Italian bank market access to crypto-related services.

Those close to the discussions said UniCredit's areas of interest include crypto custody and brokerage, tokenized investment vehicles and fixed-income products that use stablecoins. The talks are reportedly early-stage, and Cointelegraph has contacted UniCredit seeking comment on which provider might be tapped to supply the needed technology.

The move would place UniCredit alongside several large banks that are piloting or launching digital-asset capabilities. For example, U.S. Bank — the fifth-largest commercial bank in the United States — recently executed a live cross-border payment using its USBDC stablecoin, and Standard Chartered began offering spot Bitcoin and Ether trading for institutional clients in the UAE on Sept. 3 after rolling out regional custody services in September 2024.

Other institutions are also expanding into crypto services: in August, Israel’s largest lender Leumi struck a partnership with Galaxy Digital to add Bitcoin, Ether and Solana trading to its investment platform, with a launch expected in early 2027. Separately, Citi and DBS completed a tokenized cross-border deposit on Swift, highlighting wider industry experimentation with tokenization and stablecoin infrastructure.