According to PANews, London-based cryptocurrency custody firm Copper has partnered with Hedera to expand institutional access to the HBAR token. Copper will provide custody and staking services for HBAR tokens and offer institutional users a gateway to decentralized finance (DeFi) through its ClearLoop and Connect platforms. Copper, chaired by former UK Chancellor Philip Hammond, serves over 300 large institutions and crypto trading platforms. This collaboration aims to facilitate a more straightforward and secure entry for institutional investors into the Hedera ecosystem. The HBAR token will be integrated into Copper's ClearLoop settlement network and can be accessed through the Copper Connect application, enabling connections to DeFi protocols such as Aave.