Story Highlights 

• Deutsche Boerse will provide Bitcoin and Ethereum custody for institutions.
•  Clearstream will handle settlement services for 2,500 clients.
•  Plans include expanding into staking, lending, and brokerage.

Germany’s Deutsche Boerse has revealed plans to launch institutional custody and settlement services for Bitcoin and Ether, marking a landmark moment for European crypto adoption. Regardless of recent market volatility, the group of exchanges remains committed to its digital asset strategy. It aims to address the increasing demand from institutional customers.

The program will be spearheaded by Deutsche Boerse’s trading segment Clearstream, which will offer custody and settlement services to 2,500 institutional clients with service is expected to start on april as per Bloomberg report. The action seeks to simplify digital asset trading for institutions by providing a regulated and secure solution.

Deutsche Boerse Expands Crypto Services With Institutional Custody

Jens Hachmeister, director of Issuer Services at Clearstream, noted the need for a cohesive strategy, saying the new service would establish a “one-stop shop” for custody, brokerage, and settlement. To make this process easier, Clearstream is teaming with Deutsche Boerse’s Swiss affiliate, Crypto Finance AG. In the future, the company plans to add staking, lending, and brokerage services.

The launch follows a wave of crypto adoption in Europe, with Germany leading the regulatory front. Christian Lindner, a former Finance Minister, has recently promoted the adoption of Bitcoin in the nation. In July 2024, the German government also auctioned 50,000 BTC confiscated from a cryptocurrency scam case, and the move generated controversy among digital assets.

Other German institutions are also stepping into the cryptocurrency world. Germany’s largest bank, Commerzbank, introduced Bitcoin and Ethereum trading facilities in September 2024. Even in the face of regulatory pressure, Deutsche Boerse’s entry into digital assets is a reflection of growing institutional confidence in the cryptocurrency as an asset class.

And the U.S. is experiencing fast-tracked institutional crypto adoption, with several Bitcoin and crypto-based ETFs in the pipeline. The Trump administration is drafting policies to reduce barriers for institutional investors, driving further demand for regulated digital asset services.

Clearstream will look to move beyond custody by launching staking, lending, and brokerage services. This move positions it as a major player in Europe’s expanding institutional crypto market.