Later this year, Deutsche Bank intends to introduce a cryptocurrency custody service in Europe that will allow institutional and corporate clients to hold digital assets through the bank. Although regulatory clearance is still needed before launch, the proposed service will initially support Bitcoin, Ether, and a few stablecoins, such as USDC, EURC, and EURAU.
Deutsche Bank will manage customers’ wallets and private keys on their behalf, providing custody infrastructure without requiring institutions to build their own systems. The service is aimed at companies, asset managers, hedge funds, brokers, custodians and sovereign institutions connected to the bank’s European corporate and investment banking operations.
Source: db.com
On September 16, the bank made the announcement, stating that once the required regulatory procedures are finished, it anticipates onboarding its first customers.
Institutional involvement in digital assets now heavily relies on crypto custody. Systems that can safely handle private keys, transaction approvals, backups, and recovery are frequently needed by large organizations. Using a bank for these services can allow clients to access crypto without developing all of that infrastructure themselves.
Deutsche Bank said its custody system will include several security controls. Private keys will receive hardware-based protection, while responsibilities will be divided among staff. Certain transactions will require multiple approvals, and assets will be held using a combination of warm and cold storage. Backup and recovery systems will also be used.
The initial list of supported assets includes Bitcoin and Ether, along with selected stablecoins and e-money tokens such as USDC, EURC and EURAU. The bank plans to expand the range of supported digital assets over time.
It also intends to support tokenized financial instruments. These are traditional financial assets represented on a blockchain and are becoming an increasingly important part of the digital-asset market.
The service is being designed for institutional clients linked to Deutsche Bank’s Corporate Bank and Investment Bank in Europe. Customers will still have to complete the bank’s normal onboarding and compliance checks before accessing the service.
Gerald Podobnik, Deutsche Bank’s co-head of corporate bank, said the bank views digital assets as a complement to the existing financial system rather than a replacement for it. The planned custody service reflects that approach by bringing blockchain-based assets into the infrastructure of a traditional financial institution.
For a number of years, Deutsche Bank has been investigating digital asset custody. The bank first announced intentions for a cryptocurrency custody service in 2023. Taurus, a provider of digital asset infrastructure, collaborated with the bank on the project’s development.
The anticipated debut coincides with the expansion of digital asset operations by European banks as a result of the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets, or MiCA, regulations. Other large banks that have increased their participation in cryptocurrency custody and associated services include Standard Chartered and BBVA.
LATEST: 🏦 Deutsche Bank plans to launch regulated Bitcoin and Ether custody for European institutional and corporate clients by end-2026, subject to regulatory approval. pic.twitter.com/eaQxnNmlab
— CoinMarketCap (@CoinMarketCap) September 16, 2026
For institutional investors, the entry of another major European bank into crypto custody could provide an additional route for holding digital assets within a familiar banking structure. However, the service is not live yet. Its launch remains dependent on regulatory approval, while the assets ultimately offered will depend on regulatory requirements, customer demand and Deutsche Bank’s own risk controls.
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