- Deutsche Bank will offer crypto custody in 2026 with trusted tools for large digital clients.
- Bitpanda and Taurus are now building robust infrastructure to support this custody rollout plan.
- Big banks like Sparkassen and Standard Chartered are also entering the crypto space fast.
Deutsche Bank will launch a digital asset custody service in 2026. The plan involves a partnership with Bitpanda Technology Solutions and Swiss crypto firm Taurus. The initiative is part of Deutsche Bank’s expanding presence in the digital asset space as global financial institutions deepen their engagement with blockchain services and regulated crypto infrastructure.
Based in Frankfurt, Deutsche Bank will work with Bitpanda’s technology arm to develop the custody service. The service aims to securely store clients’ digital assets, including cryptocurrencies, in a regulated and institutional-grade setup.
Deutsche Bank’s crypto plans trace back to 2022. Over time, they have gained momentum as more banks evaluate secure, compliant access to tokenized assets and blockchain-based products.
A Strategic Partnership with Bitpanda and Taurus
According to Bloomberg, Deutsche Bank will use Bitpanda Technology Solutions to construct the technical framework. Bitpanda serves as the technology division of the Austrian crypto exchange Bitpanda and has experience in real-time euro payments and crypto integrations.
In addition to Bitpanda, the bank will continue working with Taurus SA, a Swiss digital asset firm. In 2023, Deutsche Bank invested in Taurus’s $65 million funding round. Taurus will supply key components of the custody infrastructure, including secure digital storage and tokenization layers. Bitpanda and Deutsche Bank already share a history of collaboration. In June 2024, they worked together to streamline payment services for the crypto exchange’s European clients. These partnerships mark a coordinated strategy to support the bank’s crypto rollout.
Broader Blockchain and Stablecoin Objectives
Deutsche Bank’s entry into custody services forms just one part of a broader blockchain roadmap. The bank is reportedly exploring stablecoins, tokenized deposits, and blockchain infrastructure for regulated public applications.
According to people familiar with the matter, the bank is assessing whether to issue its own stablecoin or manage reserves for third-party projects. These efforts indicate Deutsche Bank’s long-term blockchain strategy, which aims to reshape legacy financial services.
Moreover, it is reported that Deutsche Bank is the developer of a Layer 2 blockchain on Ethereum, based on the ZKsync solution. This is one of its digital payments expansion projects, which aligns with its vision of developing scalable and cost-efficient solutions in a fully regulated environment.
Germany’s Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe, the country’s largest savings bank association, has announced plans to offer crypto trading services to retail customers by summer 2026. Deutsche Bank’s recent moves mirror this broader shift, highlighting a growing trend of crypto adoption across the German financial sector.
Related: German Police Seize eXch in €34M Crypto Crime Takedown
Major banks across Europe are adopting digital asset services. Standard Chartered secured a MiCA license earlier this year to offer institutional-grade custody for Bitcoin and Ethereum. This trend signals a shift in institutional interest toward regulated digital finance.
Deutsche Bank’s custody timeline reflects a measured strategy. It provides time to meet regulatory standards and develop secure infrastructure before offering services to clients. Taurus and Bitpanda’s involvement highlights a reliance on trusted crypto-native firms for execution.
