Deutsche Bank’s crypto custody service is weeks from launch, with bitcoin and ether set to come first as the lender builds a broader digital asset business. Gerald Podobnik, co-head of its corporate bank, outlined the plans on October 16 during the IMF and World Bank meetings in Bangkok.

The bank’s first digital asset service will launch in Germany, followed by a planned expansion into Asian financial centres in 2027. The initiative forms part of its strategy to deliver 8% compound annual growth in corporate banking by 2028, Podobnik said.

The offering targets institutional and corporate clients. Deutsche Bank’s product material describes custody and transfers as its initial core functions, with the bank managing clients’…