Citibank to Launch Institutional-Grade Bitcoin Custody Service in 2026

On February 27, global financial giant Citibank announced it will launch a Bitcoin custody solution for institutional clients in 2026, integrating digital assets into its core banking system. The plan was revealed by Nisha Surendran, head of the bank’s Digital Assets Custody business, at an industry event. The new platform will offer institutional-grade custody, key management, and wallet solutions, supporting 24/7 operations, Swift messaging integration, and API connectivity. It will also extend tax reporting, compliance management, and risk control processes to Bitcoin holdings—allowing institutional investors to manage digital assets just as they do stocks or bonds. Citibank disclosed it currently oversees approximately $30 trillion in assets. The firm intends to initially roll out core custody functions, with plans to expand later to advanced services like asset segregation and collateral management. Industry insiders say the move could further channel traditional capital into Bitcoin, though it will still need to address key challenges including regulatory evolution and cybersecurity.