Deutsche Bank bets big on digital assets – Here’s how it could reshape European crypto

Deutsche Bank is moving into digital assets by preparing custody for institutional and corporate clients across Europe later this year.

The bank will hold wallets and private keys, allowing clients to safeguard and transfer Bitcoin [BTC], Ether [ETH], USD Coin [USDC], EURC, and EURAU without building their own custody infrastructure.

This will put digital assets within a banking framework. This will be through key protections, including storage of private keys, wallet control, and transaction approval controls.

More importantly, it may allow European institutions an easier way into crypto markets as part of a banking relationship. The initial asset list remains limited, although tokenized financial instruments will follow later on.

However, regulatory approval stands between the announcement and launch, making adoption and expansion important developments ahead.

Regulated crypto access expands

The majority of institutional interest is no longer just about getting invested in digital assets but about how they access them. According to a 2026 Coinbase-EY survey study of over 350 decision-makers, 73% are planning to allocate more money to digital assets.

In that study, 81% preferred spot exposure through registered vehicles such as ETFs and ETPs. That means for any firm offering regulated custody services, there will be a strong demand for that institution to be used as a vehicle for accessing these types of investments.