Digital Asset Custody

Definition ∞ Digital Asset Custody involves the secure storage and management of digital assets, such as cryptocurrencies and tokens, on behalf of individuals or institutions. It requires robust security protocols to protect private keys and prevent unauthorized access or loss. This service is essential for the safe participation in digital asset markets, especially for larger entities.
Context ∞ The discussion surrounding digital asset custody is currently dominated by evolving regulatory frameworks and the increasing demand for institutional-grade security solutions. Key developments include the establishment of qualified custodians, the implementation of cold storage strategies, and the ongoing debate regarding the precise legal standing of digital assets held in custody.

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→Public Debt Security

→Real World Assets

→Institutional Grade Asset

Figure Mints SEC-Registered Yielding Stablecoin Natively on Solana Blockchain

Figure is deploying an SEC-registered, yield-bearing debt security on Solana to provide compliant, high-speed settlement and a foundational RWA primitive for DeFi composability.

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→Institutional Adoption

→Regulatory Clarity

→Digital Ledger Technology

OCC Authorizes National Banks to Hold Crypto for On-Chain Operations

The OCC's Interpretive Letter 1186 provides critical balance sheet clarity, enabling banks to operationalize DLT systems and mitigate third-party risk.

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→Investment Funds

→Private Key Management

→Regulatory Clarity

SEC Staff Clarifies Crypto Custody Rule for State Trust Companies

The SEC's no-action relief operationalizes the Custody Rule for RIAs, legitimizing state-chartered trust companies as qualified digital asset custodians under strict controls.

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→Operational Testing

→Fiat Backed Stability

→Stablecoin Settlement

Czech Central Bank Purchases Digital Assets to Test Operational Readiness

The CNB is proactively building internal expertise by stress-testing the full custody, settlement, and compliance lifecycle of three distinct digital asset classes.

A textured white sphere, a foundational digital asset or block, rests on a reflective surface, symbolizing a validator node. Behind it, polished metallic rods, representing network protocols or data channels, guide a translucent trough. Within this trough, a vibrant cascade of white and deep blue granular material, indicative of token distribution or transaction throughput, flows dynamically. This abstract representation evokes the intricate mechanics of a decentralized ledger, illustrating cryptographic primitives and smart contract execution within a scalable blockchain architecture, supporting Web3 infrastructure.

→Digital Asset Custody

→Real-World Asset Tokenization

→Composability Protocol

Securitize and Plume Network Integrate Tokenized Institutional Assets for On-Chain Liquidity

This integration places regulated institutional RWA onto a Layer 2, enabling composable on-chain liquidity and streamlining global asset distribution.

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→Financial Promotion Rules

→Fungible Virtual Assets

→Digital Asset Ecosystem

Hong Kong SFC Authorizes Shared Liquidity and Eases Token Listing Rules

The SFC's new framework permits licensed platforms to leverage global liquidity pools and broadens product access, signaling a strategic pivot to market expansion.

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→Blockchain Issuance Platform

→Tokenized Securities

→Capital Formation

Korean Bank Launches Tokenized Securities Platform for Real-World Assets

The new DLT platform digitizes illiquid assets, streamlining issuance and custody to unlock fractional ownership and capital efficiency for the enterprise.

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→Strategic Asset Reserve

→Digital Asset Custody

→Government Digital Assets

Arizona Law Establishes State-Level Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Framework

State legislative action legitimizes Bitcoin as a treasury reserve asset, compelling government financial entities to develop new custody and governance protocols.

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→Market Abuse Prevention

→Legal Certainty

→Crypto Asset Licensing

EU MiCA Regulation Fully Mandates Licensing for Crypto Asset Service Providers

The full MiCA CASP mandate shifts compliance from fragmented national registration to a unified, passportable EU authorization, demanding immediate operational overhaul.

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→Digital Commodity Markets

→Cybersecurity Standards

→US Federal Framework

Senate Draft Mandates CFTC Oversight, New Compliance Rules for Digital Commodity Exchanges

The DCCPA draft operationalizes a comprehensive federal regime, requiring Digital Commodity Intermediaries to implement core compliance principles for customer asset segregation and market integrity.