Citi's Institutional Crypto Solution
Citi Unveils Custody+ Platform for Institutions, Integrating Bitcoin and Digital Assets
Key Points
Single Event Processing (SEP) technology has dramatically boosted Citi's operational efficiency: the bank says it has reduced processing times for voluntary corporate actions by up to 92%, with 96% of such events in the U.S. processed in under two hours and more than 80% of total event volume handled in real time.
Custody+ expands Citi's global custody reach, operating in 100 markets with 62 of them having Citi’s own infrastructure, highlighting significant scale beyond standard custody services.
Citi signals substantial ongoing investment in Custody+ development, with the Services division investing more than $2 billion annually to build the platform.
AI-assisted tax processing is expected to cut document processing times by up to 70%, improving efficiency in the crypto custody workflow.
The Block notes Citi's broader crypto-infrastructure moves, including a collaboration with ICE to enable tokenized deposits across clearinghouses, a Swift pilot for 24/7 cross-border tokenized payments, and participation in a tokenized-deposit network via The Clearing House targeting a launch in the first half of 2027.
Citigroup is set to launch Bitcoin custody for institutional investors later this year, making it one of the largest U.S. banks to offer crypto storage directly. The move comes as Citi unveiled its new Custody+ platform, a suite of near real-time custody tools that will let institutions hold both traditional securities and digital assets in one place, according to The Block.
Citi manages assets across 100 markets and oversees $2.8 trillion in assets, according to Moomoo. The bank is investing more than $2 billion annually into the Custody+ build-out, signaling a serious long-term bet on digital asset infrastructure.
How Custody+ Works Without Crypto Wallets or Keys
Citi's approach to Bitcoin custody is built around simplicity for institutions. Under its Citi Digital Asset Platform (CIDAP), clients will not need to manage crypto wallets or private keys. Citi handles all of that internally, within a regulated, bank-like layer. Crypto Briefing reports the service will let institutional clients access Bitcoin as they would any other traditional asset.
The broader Custody+ platform bundles several tools together. These include near real-time settlement, liquidity management, on-demand foreign exchange, and AI-assisted tax processing. That AI tool is expected to cut document processing times by up to 70%, according to CoinLaw.
Single Event Processing Slashes Corporate Action Times by 92%
Custody+ runs on Citi's proprietary Single Event Processing (SEP) technology. SEP has reduced processing times for voluntary corporate actions by up to 92%. In the U.S., 96% of such events are now processed in under two hours. More than 80% of total event volume is handled in real time, according to CoinLaw.
Tokenized deposits on the platform move 24/7 across select markets. That means institutions are not stuck waiting for business hours to settle trades or move money. Citi says this round-the-clock access is a core feature, not an add-on.
Citi's Wider Crypto Infrastructure Push Beyond Bitcoin
Bitcoin custody is just one piece of a larger strategy. The Block reports Citi is collaborating with ICE to enable tokenized deposits across clearinghouses. The bank also ran a Swift pilot for 24/7 cross-border tokenized payments. And it is participating in a tokenized-deposit network through The Clearing House, targeting a launch in the first half of 2027.
Citi's own infrastructure runs in 62 of the 100 markets where Custody+ operates. That scale sets it apart from most custody providers. Bitbo notes the bank expects Bitcoin custody to go live later this year, with additional digital assets likely to follow after the initial rollout.
Why Big Banks Are Racing to Offer Crypto Custody Now
Citi's move is part of a broader shift among major financial institutions. Regulatory clarity in the U.S. has improved, making it easier for banks to offer crypto services. Institutional demand for a trusted, regulated custodian has grown sharply as more funds allocate to Bitcoin.
By building crypto custody into its existing infrastructure rather than spinning off a separate product, Citi is betting that institutions want one place to manage everything. The timeline is tight — Bitcoin custody is expected by the end of 2025 or by 2026 at the latest, according to Crypto Briefing.
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