Jun 17, 2026
Crypto custody is the safekeeping of digital assets—Bitcoin, Ether, stablecoins, and other tokens—by a third party that holds the cryptographic private keys controlling access to those assets. Unlike self-custody, where the investor alone controls the keys, custodial arrangements transfer practical control to a centralized exchange, crypto lending platform, trust company, or broker-affiliated service.
Custodial models vary widely. Centralized exchanges such as Coinbase, Kraken, and the now-defunct FTX pool customer assets in omnibus wallets while tracking individual balances on internal ledgers. Crypto lending platforms like Celsius, BlockFi, Voyager, and Genesis accepted customer deposits and then lent, staked, or reinvested those assets to generate yield. Qualified custodians—typically state-chartered trust companies—hold digital assets for registered investment advisers and funds under the Investment Advisers Act.
Brokers and financial advisors registered with FINRA have increasingly steered retail investors toward crypto custody arrangements through referrals to affiliated platforms, recommendations of yield-bearing accounts, and integration of digital assets into retirement portfolios. When these custodians collapse or misappropriate customer funds, the people left holding the losses are ordinary investors—many of whom believed their assets were safe because a licensed financial professional recommended the arrangement.
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