Citi plans digital asset custody service launch with Bitcoin

Citigroup is preparing to launch a digital asset custody service that will let institutional clients hold Bitcoin within Citi’s existing custody infrastructure, without managing private keys. The service is expected by 2026 and will be part of the bank’s Custody+ platform, built on its Integrated Digital Assets Platform (CIDAP). The move signals a deeper institutionalization of Bitcoin custody, as Citi aims to make crypto more accessible to large asset managers already using its traditional custody services. The article frames this as a competitive response to other major custodians like BNY Mellon and State Street, while also noting that the approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs has helped normalize institutional Bitcoin exposure. Overall, the announcement is bullish for Bitcoin adoption because it reduces operational friction, broadens access for regulated institutions, and reinforces Bitcoin’s role as a bankable asset in traditional finance.