U.S. Financial Giants Eye Crypto Custody in Expanding Digital Asset Services

Several major U.S. banks are making significant strides into the cryptocurrency sector, taking advantage of more relaxed regulatory conditions under President Donald Trump.

While they still face substantial regulatory obstacles in offering full-scale crypto trading, many institutions are focusing on the growing demand for digital asset custody services.

Leading financial players such as State Street, BNY Mellon, and Citigroup are expanding their services to cater to institutional investors seeking secure digital asset storage solutions. State Street, known for its expertise in traditional asset custody, plans to launch its own digital asset custody services in the coming year.

BNY Mellon, already providing limited custody for Bitcoin and Ethereum, aims to broaden its offerings by incorporating additional tokens. Meanwhile, Citigroup is considering options to enter the space, either by creating its own custody services or partnering with established crypto firms.

However, banks still face regulatory hurdles that complicate their entry into the crypto space. To offer such services, institutions must obtain approvals from key regulatory bodies, including the Federal Reserve and the New York Department of Financial Services. Additionally, stringent capital requirements add another layer of complexity, slowing down the process of entering the crypto trading market.

As this sector develops, discussions between major crypto platforms like Coinbase and traditional banks indicate a growing synergy between established financial institutions and the crypto world.