Citigroup to Add Bitcoin Custody to Core Banking System for $30 Trillion Client Base by 2026

Citigroup plans to integrate Bitcoin custody into its core banking infrastructure by late 2026, extending the bank's existing framework that oversees approximately $30 trillion in assets under management, Citi executive Nisha Surendran said at an industry event hosted by Bitcoin treasury firm Strategy. The initiative will allow institutional clients such as pension funds, insurers and asset managers to hold Bitcoin alongside stocks, bonds and other regulated instruments within Citi's systems. Citi's Integrated Digital Assets Platform is being built to support 24/7 operations, Swift messaging, API connectivity, key management, wallet systems, tax reporting, regulatory compliance tools and risk controls for Bitcoin positions, with initial delivery focused on core custody and later phases adding features like asset segregation and collateral management. Citi is also considering partnerships with specialized firms as the platform evolves, positioning the bank among major US institutions offering digital asset custody while aiming to make Bitcoin function as a standard financial asset inside its existing operational and compliance structure.