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Deutsche Bank is preparing to launch its first digital asset custody service within weeks, as Germany’s largest lender expands its presence in the cryptocurrency sector and targets further growth across Asia.
The service will initially launch in Germany before being introduced in major Asian financial centres in 2027, Gerald Podobnik, Co-Head of Deutsche Bank’s Corporate Bank, told Reuters on the sidelines of the IMF and World Bank meetings in Bangkok.
Digital Asset Custody to Begin With Bitcoin and Ether
The phased rollout will initially allow eligible institutional and corporate clients to securely hold major digital assets, including Bitcoin and Ether.
Deutsche Bank will manage clients’ digital wallets and private keys, reducing the need for companies and institutional investors to develop their own crypto custody infrastructure.
The bank has also identified selected stablecoins and e-money tokens, including USDC, EURC and EURAU, among the assets it plans to support as the service develops.
The offering will initially focus on clients including corporations, asset managers, hedge funds, custodians, brokers and sovereign institutions.
Stablecoin and Tokenised Deposit Services Planned
Deutsche Bank plans to expand the platform beyond basic cryptocurrency custody.
Podobnik said the bank intends to develop services that will help clients move funds into and out of widely used stablecoins.
The lender is also working on tokenised deposits and plans to support the issuance of blockchain-based financial instruments, including digital bonds.
The strategy reflects Deutsche Bank’s view that blockchain technology and tokenised assets are becoming an increasingly important part of the wider financial system.
Podobnik said digital services are expected to complement conventional banking products rather than replace them.
Deutsche Bank Targets 8% Corporate Banking Growth
The digital asset expansion forms part of Deutsche Bank’s broader plan to achieve compound annual growth of around 8% in its corporate banking division by 2028.
Podobnik pointed to the growth of the digital economy, particularly the hundreds of billions of dollars now circulating in stablecoins, as evidence that substantial new pools of financial value have emerged.
The bank sees regulated digital asset infrastructure as an opportunity to serve clients seeking access to blockchain-based financial products while maintaining institutional-grade security and compliance standards.
Asia Expansion Planned for 2027
Following its initial rollout in Germany, Deutsche Bank intends to expand the custody platform into Asian financial hubs during 2027.
The move would give the lender greater exposure to markets where institutional interest in cryptocurrencies, stablecoins and tokenised financial assets continues to increase.
The bank has been developing its digital asset strategy as cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology move further into mainstream financial infrastructure.
Deutsche Bank said its custody platform has been designed with multiple security controls, including hardware-protected private keys, segregated responsibilities, multi-person approvals, warm and cold storage systems and backup and recovery procedures.
The launch represents another step in the growing involvement of major global banks in digital assets, as regulated financial institutions increasingly develop custody, stablecoin and tokenisation services alongside their traditional banking operations.
