Deutsche Bank Enters Custody Business, Bitcoin Trading Not Planned
Deutsche Bank has announced its entry into the cryptocurrency market by offering custody services for Bitcoin and tokenized real-world assets. These tokenized assets represent commodities, equity, or other real-world assets with a digital representation on a blockchain platform. However, the bank has clarified that it currently has no plans to engage in Bitcoin trading activities. This move follows the bank’s previous plans to launch a crypto trading platform in 2020.
Deutsche Bank’s decision to focus on custody services instead of trading may be influenced by factors such as the extended bear market in cryptocurrencies, the collapse of major crypto trading platforms, and the regulatory environment. Other global banks like BNY Mellon and Standard Chartered have already launched their own crypto custody platforms.
Supporting Clients in the Digital Assets Ecosystem
The Global Head of Securities Services for Deutsche Bank, Paul Maley, emphasized that they aim to support clients in the overall digital assets ecosystem, not just cryptocurrencies. The caution shown by Deutsche Bank is partly due to warnings from US regulators regarding liquidity issues and potential risks associated with the asset class.
Deutsche Bank assures that their custody services will comply with regulations and will not pose a risk to their other activities. The bank acknowledges that the digital asset space is expected to grow significantly and become a priority for investors and corporations.
Hot Take: Deutsche Bank Enters Crypto Custody Market but Shies Away from Trading
Deutsche Bank has decided to enter the cryptocurrency market by offering custody services for Bitcoin and tokenized real-world assets. While they initially planned to launch a crypto trading platform, they have now shifted their focus to custody as a safer alternative. This move aligns with other banking institutions that have also entered the crypto custody space. Deutsche Bank’s caution is influenced by regulatory warnings and the challenges faced by the crypto industry. By providing custody services, they aim to support clients in the digital assets ecosystem while mitigating risks. With this announcement, Deutsche Bank further legitimizes the growing importance of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology.
By
By
