Bitcoin Custody Services
Compare qualified custodians, insurance coverage, fees, and minimum balances side by side.
21custodians15qualified5insured0.1%–1.5%fees
Featured Custodian
BitGoEst. 2013
BitGo is a leading digital asset custody and financial services company founded in 2013. With over $64 billion in assets under custody and serving 2,000+ institutional clients across 90+ countries, BitGo pioneered multi-signature technology and provides comprehensive digital asset infrastructure including qualified custody, wallet services, and trading solutions with regulatory compliance across multiple jurisdictions.
Bitcoin custody, answered
What is a qualified Bitcoin custodian?
A qualified custodian is a federally or state-chartered bank, trust company, or broker-dealer legally permitted to hold client assets. Institutions such as pension funds and registered investment advisers are often required to use one. Examples include BitGo Trust (OCC), Coinbase Custody Trust (NYDFS), and Anchorage Digital Bank (OCC).
Which Bitcoin custodians are qualified custodians?
Of the 21 custodians we track, 15 are qualified custodians: Anchorage Digital, Bitcoin Suisse, BitGo, Coinbase, Copper, Crypto.com, Fidelity Digital Assets, Gemini, HashKey, Hex Trust, Komainu, Kraken, Onramp Bitcoin, sFOX, and Tetra Trust. The remaining six are self-custody or collaborative custody platforms where qualified status does not apply, or hosted platforms without a trust charter.
How much insurance do Bitcoin custodians carry?
Publicly disclosed coverage includes BitGo ($250M via Lloyd's of London), Crypto.com ($750M via Lloyd's), Coinbase ($320M), and Gemini ($200M+ via Nakamoto Ltd). Coverage terms vary: crime and specie policies cover different scenarios. Always confirm with the custodian what assets and events are covered.
What does Bitcoin custody cost?
Institutional custody fees typically run 4 to 150 basis points annually (0.04% to 1.5%) depending on provider and AUM. Some providers charge no separate custody fee and monetize through trading spreads. Enterprise pricing is often custom above certain AUM thresholds.
Self-custody vs third-party custody: which do I need?
Self-custody means you control the private keys, typically via a hardware wallet. Third-party custody delegates key management to a licensed institution with security controls, insurance, and regulatory oversight. Institutions and high-net-worth holders generally use third-party custodians for compliance and operational simplicity.
Custody Articles, Guides, & Videos
Learn more about Bitcoin custody and security with our curated educational content.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Bitcoin custody and secure storage.
What is Bitcoin custody?
What is a qualified custodian for Bitcoin?
How are custody fees typically structured?
What is cold storage in Bitcoin custody?
Do I need a custodian for a Bitcoin ETF?
Which Bitcoin custodians are qualified custodians?
How much insurance do Bitcoin custodians carry?
What does Bitcoin custody cost?