Deutsche Bank’s Strategic Move into Cryptocurrency Custody
Deutsche Bank has reportedly applied for a digital asset license, marking its entry into the cryptocurrency custody space. The bank’s spokesperson confirmed the application for a BaFin license, Germany’s financial regulator.
As Germany’s largest bank with $1.4 trillion in assets, Deutsche Bank aims to offer a secure storage solution for institutional clients, following through on its February 2021 announcement of exploring cryptocurrency custody.
The envisioned digital asset custody platform, to be introduced in phases, plans to enable users to buy and sell digital assets through prime brokers. The platform will also offer services like taxation, valuation, fund administration, lending, staking, voting, and more.
Deutsche Bank has been actively involved in the cryptocurrency space, with its asset management arm, DWS, reportedly in talks to acquire a minority stake in two crypto companies: Deutsche Digital Assets and Tradias.
During a recent conference, David Lynn, head of Deutsche Bank’s commercial banking division, highlighted the bank’s ongoing efforts to expand its digital asset and custody business.
Stefan Hoops, CEO of DWS, expressed optimism in February about potential opportunities in the asset management sector due to prevailing low cryptocurrency prices.
This development comes after BlackRock submitted an application for a spot Bitcoin ETF.
Rumors are circulating about Fidelity potentially acquiring Grayscale and pursuing a similar path.
The traditional finance sector is making significant moves into the cryptocurrency space!
