Key Takeaways
- Citi expects to launch institutional bitcoin custody later this year.
- More than 80% of Citi’s total event volume is processed in real time.
- Clients will access crypto and traditional custody in one framework.
Bitcoin Custody Joins Citi’s Institutional Platform
Bitcoin custody will become part of Custody+ later this year, Citigroup Inc. (NYSE: C) announced Aug. 18, as institutional markets extend operating hours and shorten settlement windows. The Custody+ announcement places crypto beside traditional assets within the same operating framework.
The bank presented the planned service as a bridge between conventional securities infrastructure and digital assets: “Citi expects to go live with digital asset custody later this year, starting with the custody of bitcoin. This is being built on Citi’s common digital asset architecture and we will offer a one-stop custody experience.” The bank added:
“Clients will access traditional and crypto custody capabilities within the same framework for an integrated experience.”
Institutional custody shifts responsibility for safeguarding private keys and approving asset movements to a third-party provider. By contrast, self-custody leaves those responsibilities with the asset owner.
Real-Time Processing Extends Across Custody Operations
Behind the digital asset plan, Citi uses its Single Event Processing system to process custody transactions continuously across domestic and global markets. More than 80% of Citi’s total event volume is processed in real time, while 96% of all U.S. voluntary events, such as tender offers or optional dividend elections, are processed within two hours.
Beyond processing individual custody events, Citi’s platform brings settlement, foreign exchange, liquidity, tax services, and market data into one system. The bank’s broader digital asset strategy is built around allowing money and securities to move outside traditional market hours, including on a 24/7 basis.
A separate June launch showed how Citi is applying the same approach to private-company shares. The bank created tokenized depositary receipts that let eligible investors hold blockchain-based securities representing shares in private companies. Citi provides custody for the securities, while SIX runs the underlying platform. SIX is the Swiss financial-market infrastructure group that operates the SIX Swiss Exchange.
That model debuted with Kaleido shares and initially limited participation to accredited investors outside the United States. The regulated onchain structure allows eligible clients to hold private-market exposure alongside traditional securities without using a separate crypto-native platform.
Regulatory Changes Support Institutional Expansion
Regulatory policy is also moving toward clearer treatment of digital asset custody and tokenized securities. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman Paul Atkins said the agency’s 2026 regulatory agenda seeks rules for onchain trading and custody while maintaining investor-protection safeguards.
Banking guidance has already clarified several limited activities involving blockchain networks and crypto assets. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) confirmed that national banks may hold certain crypto assets for network fees or platform testing under its crypto asset guidance.
Demand for faster settlement could expand as more conventional securities move onto blockchain infrastructure. Under its base case, the bank’s tokenized market projection estimates that tokenized securities and real-world assets could grow from approximately $17 billion to $5.5 trillion by 2030.
Round-the-clock liquidity is already available through another part of the bank’s institutional infrastructure. The announcement states:
“Through Citi Token Services, we are enabling the near-instantaneous movement of tokenized deposits on a 24/7 basis across select Citi markets.”
