Deutsche Bank intends to launch a crypto custody service within weeks, starting with Bitcoin and Ether, as Germany's largest lender moves to formalise its presence in digital assets for institutional and corporate clients.
The plans were outlined by Gerald Podobnik, co-head of Deutsche Bank's corporate bank, on October 16 during the IMF and World Bank meetings in Bangkok. He described the forthcoming products as additional services alongside traditional ones, framing crypto custody and related offerings as an extension of the bank's existing corporate banking business rather than a separate venture.
The service will launch first in Germany, with expansion to Asian financial centers planned for 2027. The initial rollout will cover custody and transfers, with Deutsche Bank managing wallets and private keys on behalf of clients. For now, the custody offering focuses on major cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ether.
Stablecoins to follow later
Services allowing clients to move money to and from popular stablecoins are planned for a later phase of the rollout, according to Podobnik. That timeline sits alongside an earlier September 16 press release from Deutsche Bank, which listed USDC, EURC and EURAU among assets selected for custody. The list in that release does not match the conversion services Podobnik described in Bangkok, leaving some ambiguity over which stablecoin functions will be available and when.
Beyond custody, Deutsche Bank plans to offer tokenized deposits and to help clients issue blockchain-based securities, including digital bonds. The broader digital asset push forms part of the bank's target of 8% compound annual growth in corporate banking by 2028.
A European bank enters custody
The move places one of Europe's largest banks directly into crypto custody, an area long dominated by specialist custodians and exchanges rather than traditional lenders. For institutional clients and corporations operating in Germany, it offers the prospect of holding Bitcoin and Ether through an established banking relationship rather than a third-party crypto platform.
Deutsche Bank has not detailed pricing, onboarding requirements or the precise date within the coming weeks that the service will go live. The bank's phased approach—custody first, stablecoin conversion later, tokenized deposits and digital bond issuance further down the line—suggests a cautious build-out rather than a single comprehensive launch.
