Citibank, the venerable titan of global finance, finally nodding to the digital revolution. Their grand plan? Launch crypto custody by 2026.

The same bank that used to sneer at Bitcoin is now preparing to hold your crypto marbles as if it’s their newest Michelin-starred dish.

This move is all about meeting the massive institutional hunger for secure crypto solutions, and they want in, big time.

Clarity

For years, Wall Street was the party pooper, ignoring or outright avoiding crypto assets. But times change.

Enter US regulatory clarity, the golden ticket that turned six-year-old skepticism into a confident stride.

Thanks to laws like the GENIUS Act, regulators are finally giving the nod with a clear, shiny go ahead sign.

This legal clarity is a much-needed map in the otherwise treacherous jungle of crypto regulation, reducing the prior fear of legal landmines.

Secure crypto custody solutions

Behind the scenes, Citi has been quietly plotting for the past two to three years, experimenting with a dual-track approach.

It’s like blending in-house tech with the best third-party solutions, because why reinvent the wheel when you can upgrade it?

The goal is to directly custody native crypto assets, offering a top-notch, highly regulated service for its global clientele.

Biswarup Chatterjee, the man steering the ship, says they’re making steady, measurable progress.

He envisions a slick, secure custody solution that asset managers and big clients will trust.

Because if you’re handing over millions or billions in crypto, you want a bank with a pedigree. Not some startup with shaky servers and a dream.

Traditional playbook

JPMorgan went all Don Quixote. Their brave decision, no direct crypto custody.

They’re handing that space over to specialist firms like Anchorage and BitGo, who built the infrastructure to manage crypto asset risks.

Big banks see the opportunity in this new frontier but don’t want to risk their reputation on risky tech.

Instead, they prefer to stick to their traditional, risk-averse, highly regulated playbook, while secretly eyeing the crypto pot of gold.

With 2026 on the horizon, Citi has plenty of time to dot the regulatory i’s and cross the compliance t’s.

Their dedication signals a future where crypto assets are just another line of their vast, complex kingdom, one built on security, trust, and a dash of Wall Street swagger. The next chapter?

It’s written in code, powered by regulation, and supervised by the banking giants of the world.