Citibank is advancing plans to roll out a native cryptocurrency custody service in 2026, as part of its broader push into the digital‑asset infrastructure space.
Biswarup Chatterjee, Citi’s global head of Partnerships & Innovation, disclosed that the bank is actively working on building a “credible custody solution” tailored for asset managers and institutional clients. He hinted that the final product might combine internal technologies with external partnerships to serve different use cases and asset classes.
The move comes as Citi expands its presence in tokenization and digital asset services. Its existing Citi Token Services platform, already operating in multiple markets, underpins real‑time tokenized payments and liquidity operations — functions Citi sees as foundational to its future digital finance strategy.
Citi is also evaluating custody services for stablecoin reserves, which must by law be backed by high‑quality assets like cash or U.S. Treasuries. Given recent legislation favorable to stablecoins, this area is emerging as a key domain for banks entering the crypto space.
As such, Citi’s announcement signals a shift: from watching the crypto market from the sidelines to building infrastructure that supports a bridge between traditional finance and digital assets. If executed well, the initiative could reshape how large financial firms manage, store, and integrate crypto into their offerings.