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It has been previously reported that the publication of Circle's USDC stablecoin attestation reports have become very tardy. However, JP Koning also notes that between February and March 2021, the reports have gotten a bit less transparent. Circle no longer discloses the precise amount of U.S. dollars it holds in custody. Whereas they used to say "US Dollars held in custody =..." in March they started saying "US Dollars held in custody accounts are at least equal or greater than the USDC tokens outstanding..." One possibility is that Circle is investing in assets that cannot be easily valued, and going down the same slippery slope as Tether.

On Tuesday, besides prohibiting anonymous crypto transactions, the EU's executive arm also added anonymous crypto asset wallets to its prohibition list, requiring the full application of AML/CFT rules to ensure complete traceability. This created some confusion as to what exactly the crypto wallets meant here, which the European Commission confirmed is not applicable to non-custodial privacy wallets rather only to exchanges. Indeed, open-source, non-custodial wallets, will not be covered by the prohibition.

"Bakkt was first announced in early August as a bitcoin trading and custody platform, but its launch has been repeatedly delayed It has submitted a proposal to the CFTC, asking for an exemption which would allow it to custody the bitcoin it uses to settle its futures contracts. While CFTC Commissioners were reportedly given the proposal in December, it now appears to be back before CFTC staffers. It is unclear if or when the proposal may be published for a mandatory 30-day public review period. Until the review period has ended - and CFTC Commissioners have voted to approve Bakkt's exemption - the exchange cannot launch its one-day physically-settled futures contract."

Institutional crypto trading platform Bakkt has аcquired a crypto custodian service Digital Asset Custody Company, and filed an application with the New York Department of Financial Services to operate as a trust company.

Coinbase launched its custody service 12 months ago, and the AUM has now crossed $1 billion with 70 institutions signed up.

The State of Wyoming just got a big boost from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). Their recent joint staff statement on broker-dealer custody of digital securities provides support for Wyoming's regulatory approach to the custody of digital assets.*

The UK Royal Mint will provide crypto custodial services for the first time everand is participating in the launch of new crypto-asset temtum. TEM is a zero-fee P2P crypto-asset aimed at creating a "new world of financial freedom away from centralised institutions."

Grayscale Investments has tapped Coinbase Custody to act as the custodian for Grayscale's single-asset and diversified investment products. Coinbase qlrready holds $1b in assets, and Grayscale holds $2.7b in total assets under management.

The US SEC and FINRA have left broker-dealers and the operators of digital asset trading platforms treading water with the joint guidance regarding the custody of digital assets the regulators released earlier this week.

In just over one year since launch, Coinbase Custody has grown to over $7 billion in Assets Under Custody stored on behalf of more than 120 clients in 14 different countries, making it the largest institutional custodian in the world.

Bitcoin wallet and blockchain explorer provider Blockchain just launched its first custodial exchange platform, called The PIT, that can connect to non-custodial Blockchain wallets for nearly instant transfers.

Cryptocurrency custody firm Prime Trust is strengthening its solution to protect digital assets it holds in custody from potential hacks and thefts. Prime Trust has partnered with Fidelity-backed crypto security firm Fireblocks for the initiative.

Gemini Trust Company, a regulated custodian overseen by the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS), now offers "Gemini Custody," a platform which would enable clients to trade assets instantly by offering them credits.

Intercontinental Exchange Inc. is closer to offering Bitcoin futures trading as its Bakkt unit opened its digital-asset custody warehouse to customers. Here are the nuts and bolts of how it will work.

Blocknox, a subsidiary of the second largest German stock exchange Boerse Stuttgart, is expanding its cryptocurrency custody service to institutional players.

While more than 40 banks have reportedly expressed interest in Germany's new crypto custody license, those firms may still have to put up with an anti-crypto sentiment among German banks.

State Street will reportedly announce later this year that it is offering safekeeping for digital assets in the United States and Europe. However, because bitcoin is not a financial instrument, legally speaking it cannot be held in custody, so the bank will call their offering "record-keeping services" even though it will also offer to look after customers' digital keys. Northern Trust is also close to offering safekeeping for clients' crypto-assets through a joint venture with Standard Chartered.

"BitGo obtained a New York Trust (becoming a New York Limited Liability Trust Company) from New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) to operate as an independent, regulated qualified custodian under New York State Banking Law. The Trust Charter enables BitGo to provide custodial services for New York clients who need to secure large amounts of digital assets with designated entities that offer the highest level of security, regulatory oversight and operational efficiency. Additionally, a New York Trust Charter allows a company to provide custodial services in many other states without obtaining additional licenses. To date NYDFS has only approved a handful of Trust Charters for companies engaged in virtual currency business activity, including Gemini, Coinbase and Paxos."

Gemini Trust Company has more than $10 billion in total crypto under custody. Customers include BlockFi, CoinList, CI Global Asset Management, Eaglebrook Advisors, WealthSimple, and 3iQ Digital Asset Management.

Institutional investors still face a conundrum when deciding how to hold their crypto assets in custody, according to the results of an informal poll done by crypto-exchange operator Gemini.