Citi Is About To Cross A Major Bitcoin Line—Here’s What It Means For Wall Street

By Isaac • August 18, 2026 11:18 pm •

One of Wall Street’s biggest banks is preparing to do something that would have been almost unthinkable a few years ago: hold Bitcoin itself for institutional clients.

Citi says it will soon launch custody services for native crypto assets such as Bitcoin. The move could remove a major operational obstacle for large investors that want direct exposure but need a regulated bank to safeguard the asset.

Citi is moving from Bitcoin exposure to Bitcoin infrastructure

In its 2026 Investor Day transcript, Citi said it already provides custody for stablecoin reserves and crypto exchange-traded funds. Head of Services Shahmir Khaliq told investors that direct custody for native crypto assets is next because institutional clients want bank-grade protection