Citibank Plans to Launch Institutional-Grade Bitcoin Custody Services by 2026

Odaily News Citibank's Head of Digital Asset Custody Development, Nisha Surendran, announced at an industry event hosted by Strategy that Citibank plans to integrate Bitcoin into its core banking services by late 2026, offering institutional-grade custody, key management, and wallet systems.

The platform will extend traditional tax reporting, compliance, and risk management processes to Bitcoin holdings, supporting 24/7 operations, SWIFT global transfer messaging, and API connectivity. Citibank currently manages approximately $30 trillion in assets, and this move aims to eliminate operational barriers for institutional investors such as pension funds and insurance companies in dealing with crypto assets.

Surendran stated that the initial phase will launch core custody functionalities, with subsequent phases gradually expanding to services like asset segregation and collateral management.