U.S. Bank partners with NYDIG to offer bitcoin custody services

U.S. Bank is now offering crypto custody services to its institutional clientele in the U.S. or Cayman Islands.

Private funds can currently keep their bitcoin with the bank, according to today's announcement. Support for more coins will be added in the future. 

NYDIG is the first sub-custodian partnership the bank has announced, though it's building a network of providers. NYDIG topped the list due to its history navigating compliance and regulatory standards in the space, according to the announcement.

Gunjan Kedia, vice chair of U.S. Bank Wealth Management and Investment Services, said investor demand for crypto offerings has exploded in recent years.

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"Our fund and institutional custody clients have accelerated their plans to offer cryptocurrency and, in response, we made it a priority to accelerate our ability to offer custody services," she said in today's announcement. 

Within its custody offerings, the bank will enable private key storage for bitcoin, bitcoin cash and litecoin, according to a report from CNBC. 

U.S. Bank's decision to custody follows a number of other banks getting in on crypto. State Street is building out a new crypto unit, while Bank of New York Mellon is set to launch custody services this year. 

U.S. Bank first announced it would roll out bitcoin custody services in April of this year. At the time, the bank referenced the clarity that then-Comptroller Brian Brooks had provided, authorizing national banks to custody crypto. 

About Author

Aislinn Keely is a reporter on The Block's policy team holding down the legal beat. She covers court decisions, bankruptcies, regulatory actions and other key moments in the legal sphere, putting them in context for the wider crypto industry. Before The Block, she lent her voice to the NPR affiliate WFUV and helmed Fordham University's student newspaper. Send tips or thoughts on all things policy and legal to [email protected] or follow her on Twitter for updates @AislinnKeely.