Citi confirmed it expects to launch digital asset custody later this year, starting with bitcoin, folding the service into a new platform called Custody+. Clients will access traditional and crypto custody within the same framework, extending a buildout that already spans tokenized deposits and cross-border payment pilots.
Citi said it expects to go live with digital asset custody later this year, starting with the custody of bitcoin, the bank confirmed as it unveiled Custody+, a new suite of near- and real-time products. The bank had previously disclosed in November 2025 that it planned to launch native crypto custody in 2026, and Tuesday's announcement names bitcoin as the first asset. Citi has not disclosed which digital assets would follow.
One framework for traditional and crypto custody
Custody+ is a new platform designed for markets moving toward continuous trading and shorter settlement cycles, with the bitcoin custody offering built on Citi's common digital asset architecture. Clients will be able to access both traditional and crypto custody capabilities within the same framework. According to CoinGape: "Citi's Services business invests over US$2 billion annually in its platform strategy", said Chris Cox, Head of Investor Services at Citi.
Beyond custody, Custody+ also includes real-time asset servicing, instant settlements, liquidity tools, and AI-powered market intelligence. The bank also highlighted its existing tokenized deposit capabilities, which allow near-instantaneous movement of tokenized deposits 24/7 across select Citi markets.
A broader digital asset buildout
Citi has expanded its digital asset infrastructure through the year. In January, the bank said it was working with Intercontinental Exchange to enable tokenized deposits across its clearinghouses, and it later joined a Swift pilot for 24/7 cross-border payments using tokenized deposits in July. Citi is also part of a group of major U.S. banks building a tokenized deposit network through The Clearing House, targeting a launch in the first half of 2027.
Sources: The Block, CryptoPotato, CoinGape
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