Deutsche Bank has launched its digital asset custody service for institutional and corporate clients, following its announcement of the offering in September. The German lender said the service is now live, as European banks increasingly embrace digital markets.
The bank first announced the custody solution in September. It said the offering would provide institutional and corporate clients across Europe with secure, regulated custody for selected digital assets.
The service covers the safekeeping and storage of digital assets. Deutsche Bank will manage clients’ wallets and private keys, allowing clients to hold assets securely and transfer them to third parties when required.
At launch, the bank supports Bitcoin and Ether. It also offers custody for selected stablecoins and e-money tokens, including USDC, EURC and EURAU.
The service is designed for clients of Deutsche Bank’s Corporate Bank and Investment Bank. These include corporates, asset managers, hedge funds, custodians, brokers and sovereign institutions.
Deutsche Bank has positioned the offering as an institutional product rather than a retail crypto service. The bank aims to give corporate and institutional clients access to digital asset infrastructure within a regulated banking framework.
The launch reflects growing interest among large European lenders in digital assets. Banks are seeking to serve clients that want exposure to crypto assets, tokenized instruments and blockchain-based financial products without managing the underlying technology themselves.
Deutsche Bank views custody as the first stage of a broader digital asset strategy. The bank has said it aims to expand the offering over time into tokenization and settlement services.
The move places Deutsche Bank among European financial institutions building regulated digital asset infrastructure. The launch signals Deutsche Bank's intention to develop digital asset custody as part of its institutional banking services.
The launch gives institutional clients a route to hold digital assets through a major bank. It may also encourage other European lenders to accelerate their own digital asset plans as regulatory clarity improves and client demand grows.
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