The digital asset custody market is competitive. Key players include Coinbase Custody, Kraken, Gemini, and several others. In this landscape, Zodia Custody stands out as a credible bank-backed option. It focuses specifically on institutional clients. Built from the ground up, it meets the demanding standards of traditional finance while supporting blockchain and crypto innovation.
Zodia Custody was founded in 2020/2021. It began as a partnership between SC Ventures (Standard Chartered Bank’s innovation arm) and Northern Trust. The goal was clear: deliver a custodian that institutions could trust at the same level as traditional assets. The founding team applied decades of banking expertise to create a platform centered on security, compliance, and client needs.
The Founding Vision and Growth
The founders identified a major gap. Existing solutions often fell short on the risk, governance, and operational standards required by large banks and asset managers. Standard Chartered and Northern Trust incubated Zodia to blend proven custody practices with advanced digital technology.
Since launch, Zodia has delivered solid progress:
- Shareholder strength: Backed by SBI Holdings, National Australia Bank, and Emirates NBD. This forms a strong global financial consortium.
- Global footprint: Headquartered in London with offices in Dublin, Luxembourg, the UAE, Sydney, Singapore, and Hong Kong.
- Regulatory leadership: Holds key licenses including UK FCA, Luxembourg CSSF (MiCA CASP for EU passporting), Hong Kong TCSP, and ADGM in the UAE.
Today, Zodia Custody supports 75+ crypto assets. It provides 24/7 cold storage with institutional-grade controls (SOC 1 and ISO 27001 certified). Key features include staking, Interchange for off-venue settlement, and Zodia Rewards. The rewards program turns custody into a value-adding tool with potential yields and waived fees on eligible tokens.
Its Solutions arm delivers white-label technology. Banks and institutions can use it to build their own compliant digital asset services.
Active Voice in Global Industry Conversations
Zodia’s leaders actively shape industry discussions. CEO Julian Sawyer recently spoke at the Point Zero Forum 2026 in Zurich. He shared the stage with executives from Bank of America, Societe Generale-FORGE, and Anchorage Digital on the panel “Tokenization, Stablecoins and DeFi: How Institutions Are Going On-Chain.”
Powering the Institutional Transition
Strong backing and reliable delivery distinguish Zodia. It supports real-world applications from ETF/ETP custody to tokenized assets and stablecoins. As tokenization and institutional adoption accelerate, Zodia’s bank-native model provides the controls institutions require.
Discover More at EBC12 in Barcelona
Zodia Custody will take part in the European Blockchain Convention 12 (16–17 September 2026, Barcelona). This leading event covers digital asset markets, infrastructure, and policy. It’s a prime opportunity to engage with the team.
As media partners of EBC12, the Disruption Banking team looks forward to covering these important conversations. We’ll track the development of trusted infrastructure in Europe’s digital asset space.
Tickets and details: Check the official EBC site for passes. Flexible options and crypto payments are available.
See Also:
Fintech Is a Mindset – Gemini’s Julian Sawyer | Disruption Banking
How Standard Chartered Became a Leader in Digital Assets | Disruption Banking
