Citi launches Bitcoin custody via Custody+

Citigroup, through its Investor Services division, announced the launch of Custody+, a comprehensive suite of near- and real-time custody solutions designed for always-on capital markets. The platform integrates real-time asset servicing, instant settlements, on-demand FX, real-time cash and liquidity management, AI-powered market intelligence, and digital asset custody. Citi expects to go live with digital asset custody later in 2026, starting with Bitcoin, built on its common digital asset architecture, allowing institutional clients to hold both traditional securities and cryptocurrencies within the same framework. The announcement coincides with the completion of the U.S. rollout of its Single Event Processing (SEP) technology, which has reduced processing times for voluntary corporate actions by up to 92%, with over 80% of total event volume processed in real-time. Citi's custody business serves clients in over 100 markets, including 62 proprietary markets. The move reflects broader Wall Street expansion into digital assets, following similar offerings by BNY, Fidelity Investments — Fidelity Digital Assets, and Coinbase, and comes amid a more favorable regulatory environment after the SEC withdrew SAB 121.