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Deutsche Boerse’s Clearstream to Launch Bitcoin and Ether Custody Services

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Deutsche Boerse is set to offer cryptocurrency custody and settlement services to institutional clients starting next month, marking a major step into the crypto space. The company’s Clearstream division, known for its settlement services, will now provide custody for Bitcoin and Ether, the two largest cryptocurrencies by market capitalization.

Key Details:

  • Launch date: April
  • Service offered: Custody and settlement for Bitcoin and Ether, with potential for adding more cryptocurrencies based on demand.
  • Sub-custodian: Crypto Finance, a subsidiary of Deutsche Boerse.

Expansion into Crypto

Deutsche Boerse, a major German exchange, began its foray into cryptocurrency services with the launch of a crypto trading platform for institutional investors in 2023. Offering crypto custody services is now part of Clearstream’s strategy to digitize financial markets, according to Jens Hachmeister, Clearstream’s head of issuer services and new digital markets.

Growing Crypto Adoption in Europe

The move comes after the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets regulation (MiCA) was introduced in 2023, setting clear rules for crypto activities across Europe. Clearstream’s new service is part of a broader trend of European financial institutions moving into digital assets, with Crypto Finance having secured a MiCA license in January.

Industry Comparison

Deutsche Boerse joins a growing list of global custody providers like Bank of New York Mellon and State Street, which also offer crypto custody services. BBVA, a Spanish bank, is another notable institution expanding into the digital asset space by offering Bitcoin and Ether trading in Spain.

The move to institutionalize cryptocurrency services reflects growing mainstream financial interest in crypto assets, especially with U.S. regulators easing rules for banks to engage with digital currencies.

Franklin Templeton Files for XRP ETF Amid Rising Altcoin Adoption

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Franklin Templeton has filed for an exchange-traded fund (ETF) tracking the spot price of XRP, highlighting the growing interest of asset managers in digital assets beyond Bitcoin. The filing, submitted on Tuesday, is part of a broader trend of increasing cryptocurrency ETF applications, fueled by expectations of a more favorable stance from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under President Donald Trump’s administration.

This move follows Franklin Templeton’s recent filing for a Solana-based ETF last month and Grayscale Investments’ launch of a Dogecoin fund in January.

XRP, developed by U.S. crypto firm Ripple, is the world’s fourth-largest cryptocurrency, with a market capitalization of approximately $124 billion, according to CoinGecko. The token has surged more than threefold over the past year and is among the digital assets Trump has proposed for inclusion in a new strategic reserve.

Franklin Templeton’s XRP ETF is set to be listed on the Cboe BZX Exchange, with Coinbase designated as the custodian for the fund’s XRP holdings.

Brazil May Revise Fintech Reporting Rules Over Money Laundering Risks

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Brazil’s tax revenue agency is expected to revisit discussions on requiring financial technology companies to report transaction values amid concerns over money laundering, agency head Robinson Barreirinhas said on Tuesday.

Speaking at a Senate hearing, Barreirinhas highlighted strong evidence that lesser-known payment institutions are being exploited for illicit financial activities. The government had initially planned to extend transaction-tracking requirements to fintechs but suspended the measure last year following public backlash.

“I don’t want to demonize fintechs … but the truth is that many end up being used (for illicit transactions) due to the ease of opening accounts,” Barreirinhas stated, emphasizing the need for stricter regulations on account openings.

In September, Brazil’s tax agency issued a rule mandating fintechs to report transactions—including those made via the widely used Pix instant payment system—aligning their reporting obligations with traditional banks. However, opposition to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva framed the measure as an effort to impose new taxes on workers, leading the administration to suspend the rule in January after a sharp decline in Lula’s approval ratings.

Barreirinhas also voiced concerns about organized crime financing in Brazil, citing illicit trade in smuggled cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cryptocurrencies, and online betting as key issues requiring regulatory attention.