Citi Bank Plans Bitcoin Integration Into Traditional Finance Infrastructure
According to Citigroup, institutional bitcoin custody will launch later this year, integrating bitcoin into existing custody, reporting and tax frameworks, enabling cross-margining within a single safekeeping account and client instructions via SWIFT, APIs, or user interfaces.
In an official announcement by Citigroup, delivered by Nisha Surendran at the World Strategy Forum (also referenced as the World Strategy 2026 forum), the bank said it will launch institutional bitcoin custody later this year. The service will fold bitcoin into Citi’s existing custody, reporting, control and tax frameworks, offering a single service model across crypto, securities and cash. Clients will manage bitcoin under a single safekeeping account with cross-margining between digital and traditional assets; transactions can be instructed via SWIFT, APIs or user interfaces while Citi handles clearing and settlement. Surendran said the goal is to “make bitcoin bankable,” providing institutional-grade key management and wallet infrastructure and addressing client demand to avoid self-managing wallets, keys and one-time addresses. Citi is adapting systems for 24/7 markets and already runs Citi Token Services for cash, a live intra-bank blockchain network; it began on private permissioned blockchains and plans broader public-network use as regulations clarify. The announcement aligns with wider moves by peers like Morgan Stanley and JPMorgan to expand digital-asset capabilities.
- Bitcoin custody: Institutional safekeeping of bitcoin within a bank’s infrastructure, integrating asset holding, reporting, and controls similar to traditional securities custody.
- Cross-margining: Using multiple asset types under a single account as collateral to offset margin requirements across positions in digital and traditional markets.
- SWIFT: A global financial messaging network used by banks to transmit payment and transaction instructions securely.