Citigroup plans to launch institutional-grade Bitcoin custody services in 2026

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

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

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