Deutsche Bank Plans Digital Asset Custody in Germany Within Weeks
According to Reuters, Deutsche Bank is expected to launch digital asset custody for eligible corporate and institutional clients in Germany within several weeks, after completing the regulatory process. In 2027, it plans to expand into Asian financial centers.
Digital asset custody from Deutsche Bank is expected to begin in Germany within several weeks, according to Gerald Podobnik’s comments to Reuters, if the regulatory process is completed. The bank has not disclosed an exact launch date. The service is intended for eligible corporate and institutional clients, not retail customers.
On September 16, Deutsche Bank officially announced plans to offer a digital asset custody solution in Europe. At launch, the service is expected to support Bitcoin, Ether, USDC, EURC and EURAU. The bank is expected to manage clients’ wallets and private keys.
Digital asset custody will launch with five assets
The announced model is intended to hold selected crypto assets for corporate and institutional clients. It is not retail trading or investment advice.
Deutsche Bank also warns that crypto assets held in custody are not covered by a deposit protection system comparable to the protection for bank deposits.
Asian financial centers are planned for 2027
After the planned German launch, the bank wants to expand the platform to Asian financial centers in 2027. It has not disclosed the specific jurisdictions. The expansion is the bank’s plan and will depend on local approvals and further decisions.
Transfers to and from stablecoins, tokenized deposits and the issuance of blockchain-based securities are later phases according to Reuters, not features confirmed for the initial launch.
After the end of the MiCA transitional periods, only entities with the relevant authorization may provide crypto-asset services in the European Union. Independent verification of Deutsche Bank’s specific registration in the MiCA/ESMA register was not available in the primary sources used. It therefore cannot be claimed that the service has already received final authorization.
What comes next
Key developments to watch include official confirmation of the German launch, the announcement of the first clients, the regulatory status of the relevant entity and the scope of permitted services.
Regarding the Asian plan, it remains open which markets the bank will select, whether it will submit license applications and which local approvals it will obtain. Deutsche Bank has not yet published the service’s pricing either.
Sources
- Deutsche Bank – media release – Officially confirms the planned European institutional custody service, supported assets, private-key management, regulatory conditions and risk warnings.
- Reuters via MarketScreener – Reports Gerald Podobnik’s October 16 comments on the German launch within weeks and the planned Asian expansion in 2027.
- ESMA – Statement on the End of Transitional Periods under MiCA – Explains that after July 1, 2026, only entities with the relevant MiCA authorization may provide crypto-asset services to clients in the EU, and recommends checking the ESMA register.
- CoinDesk – Provides recent corroboration of the reported timeline and states that the bank is expected to manage clients’ wallets and private keys at launch.
Verified and updated: October 19, 2026 06:23
