Deutsche Bank plans to launch a digital-asset custody platform later this year, targeting institutional clients with support for Bitcoin, Ether, and a selection of regulated stablecoins. The service, designed to manage wallets and private keys, remains subject to final regulatory approvals and internal risk management protocols.
The proposed platform will initially focus on German clients, including asset managers, hedge funds, and sovereign institutions. According to Gerald Podobnik, co-head of the bank's Corporate Bank, the offering aims to integrate digital assets into the established financial system rather than replace it. The bank intends to provide security through a combination of warm and cold storage environments, hardware-based key protection, and multi-person transaction approvals.
Initial asset support includes Bitcoin and Ether, alongside stablecoins USDC, EURC, and EURAU. The latter, EURAU, is issued by AllUnity—a joint venture involving DWS, Flow Traders, and Galaxy—and complies with the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation. While these five assets form the foundation, the bank notes that the list is subject to change based on client demand and future product approvals.
The project relies on technical infrastructure developed through partnerships with external providers, including Swiss firm Taurus and Bitpanda Enterprise. While Deutsche Bank did not explicitly name these partners in its latest announcement, it has maintained long-standing ties with both firms to build out its custody and payment capabilities. Beyond cryptocurrencies, the bank’s long-term roadmap includes the eventual custody of tokenized financial instruments, such as equities and bonds, following its participation in initiatives like the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s Project Guardian.
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