Deutsche Bank, Europe’s largest bank by assets, has announced it will launch a regulated crypto custody service for institutional clients starting in 2026. The move underscores a growing shift among traditional financial giants to incorporate digital assets into their core offerings.
The new platform, spearheaded by the Deutsche Bank Corporate Bank division, will offer secure storage solutions for Bitcoin, Ethereum, and select other tokens. It is tailored for institutional investors, including funds, corporates, and family offices seeking regulated frameworks to manage sizable crypto positions.
In a statement, David Lynne, head of the Corporate Bank, said: “We are building a robust digital asset custody service designed to meet the rising demand for secure, compliant, and scalable crypto infrastructure among institutional players.”
The custody solution will integrate with partners licensed under European financial directives, ensuring it aligns with the evolving MiCA (Markets in Crypto Assets Regulation) standards. It will also support additional services like institutional staking, advanced reporting, and compliance monitoring.
Analysts see this as a pivotal step toward the institutionalization of crypto in Europe, providing large investors with a trusted gateway to participate in digital asset markets without relying solely on native crypto custodians.
The announcement follows a broader trend where global banks, asset managers, and insurers are increasingly preparing to handle crypto custody under formal regulatory oversight. As rules tighten across the EU and other jurisdictions, these banks position themselves to capture a new stream of fees while legitimizing crypto’s role in modern portfolios.
