Deutsche Bank Awaits Regulatory Approval For Institutional Crypto Custody Launch

Deutsche Bank, Germany’s largest bank, is waiting on regulatory sign off to launch digital asset custody services for institutional and corporate clients across Europe, with plans to go live this year pending approval timelines.

What The Service Will Cover

The bank plans to initially support custody for Bitcoin, Ether and select stablecoins, including USDC, EURC and AllUnity EUR, with tokenized financial instruments expected to follow at a later stage. Deutsche Bank expects to receive its license in October under the European Union’s Markets in Crypto Assets framework, according to a bank spokesperson. As a globally systemically important bank, its entry into crypto custody marks a significant institutional step following earlier confirmation that the bank was developing such services.

Part Of A Broader Push Among German Banks

The move builds on Deutsche Bank’s earlier crypto ambitions, including a 2023 custody partnership with Taurus and its subsequent application for a digital asset custody license in Germany. Its head of digital assets had also indicated the bank was exploring entry into the stablecoin market, potentially including issuing its own token.

Other German banks have already moved into similar territory, with Landesbank Baden Württemberg launching crypto custody through a partnership with Bitpanda in 2024, and DZ Bank receiving regulatory authorization for its own crypto platform in December 2025. Momentum among German banks is expected to accelerate following the full enforcement of the EU’s MiCA framework in July.