Coinspeaker Germany’s DZ BANK Launches Digital Custody in Collaboration with Ripple
On January 9, 2025, DZ BANK, the largest bank in Germany, officially launched its digital custody platform for crypto securities. The strategic move integrates blockchain technology to manage tokenized bonds and other digital assets efficiently, amid DZ BANK’s dedication to reshaping capital markets in the digital age.
Customer Spotlight: @DZBANK launched a secure custody solution for tokenized bonds and crypto assets.With Ripple Custody, they’re simplifying digital asset management and driving efficiency.Explore this customer case study: https://t.co/IrrQIJNcuj pic.twitter.com/4bBD64pW7c
— Ripple (@Ripple) January 8, 2025
In collaboration with Ripple Custody, DZ BANK has constructed a cutting-edge infrastructure designed for blockchain analytics, wallet management, and secure digital custody services. The project aligns with Germany’s eWpG law, which regulates electronic securities, allowing the bank to provide streamlined services to its institutional clients.
Holger Meffert, head of securities services and digital custody at DZ BANK, expressed pride in the milestone, stating:
“DZ BANK is quite happy and we are very proud that we were one of the first banks in Germany which really built and made their digital custody platform going live. We can serve our clients, dealing with settlement and custody of digital assets, focusing on crypto securities according to the German securities law.”
DZ BANK Leads the Digital Asset Custody Race
DZ BANK’s platform isn’t just a conceptual leap — it’s a practical tool for managing a staggering €350 billion in assets under custody, as recorded at the end of August 2024. This positions the bank as a leader in institutional digital asset custody in Germany.
With its robust blockchain-based architecture, the platform seamlessly integrates into existing capital market systems. That approach enhances not only the custody but also the settlement and management of digital assets. By leveraging Ripple’s technology, DZ BANK has crafted a system that marries innovation with the demands of modern financial markets.
DZ BANK’s collaboration with Ripple Custody is a key driver behind its innovative platform. The digital ledger technology employed ensures secure, efficient transactions and effective wallet management. This focus on infrastructure underscores the bank’s determination to remain a trailblazer in Germany’s rapidly evolving fintech sector.
Major European Banks Eyes Crypto Adoption
The Ripple-DZ partnership demonstrates a clear commitment to embracing digital transformation, setting the stage for other European banks to explore cryptocurrencies. In September 2024, Zürcher Kantonalbank (ZKB), Switzerland’s fourth-largest bank, began offering Bitcoin and Ethereum trading services to retail customers.
That same month, Germany’s Commerzbank announced plans to provide bitcoin and ether trading to corporate clients, leveraging a deal with Crypto Finance, as Coinspeaker earlier reported. In November 2023, Commerzbank secured a crypto custody license in Germany, enabling the financial institution to provide an extensive array of digital asset services.
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Germany’s DZ BANK Launches Digital Custody in Collaboration with Ripple