Crypto Custody software provides essential tools for teams managing institutions. The right solution depends on team size, technical requirements, budget constraints, and integration needs with existing workflows. Modern Crypto Custody platforms balance powerful features with intuitive interfaces that minimize training time.

We evaluated 4 Crypto Custody solutions for institutions, examining pricing models, core features, ease of use, and scalability. Our analysis includes free tiers, entry-level paid plans, and enterprise options, considering total cost of ownership including implementation, training, and ongoing support costs.

Quick Answer

The best crypto custody for institutions in 2026 is Anchorage Digital because it's the first and only federally chartered crypto bank in the United States, providing unmatched regulatory compliance and banking-grade security. For institutions prioritizing transparent pricing and proven scale, BitGo manages $90.3 billion in assets with clear 0.6% annual AUM fees, making it ideal for cost-predictable custody at enterprise scale.

Last updated: 2026-01-30

Our Rankings

Best Overall

Anchorage Digital

Only federally chartered crypto bank in the US with custody for 500+ assets, trading for 400+, and full banking integration—ideal for regulated institutions requiring maximum compliance Starting at Contact sales for pricing, it provides excellent value for teams at any scale.

Price: Contact sales for pricing
Pros:
  • Comprehensive feature set covers all Anchorage Digital needs
  • Excellent price-to-performance ratio at Contact sales for pricing
  • Strong integrations and ecosystem
Cons:
  • Premium features require higher-tier plans
Best Value

BitGo

Leading institutional custody managing $90.3B AUM with transparent 0.6% annual fees (5 basis points/month) and support for 500+ assets—best for cost-predictable custody

Price: Contact sales for pricing
Pros:
  • Competitive pricing at Contact sales for pricing
  • Feature-rich without premium price tag
  • Transparent pricing with no hidden fees
Cons:
  • Interface could be more modern
Best for Teams

Coinbase Prime

Best integrated platform combining custody ($2,400/year minimum), trading (0.1-0.6%), and staking (20+ protocols) on trusted Coinbase infrastructure

Price: Contact sales for pricing
Pros:
  • Built for collaboration with real-time features
  • Intuitive interface requires minimal training
  • Flexible permissions and role management
Cons:
  • Enterprise features limited on lower tiers
Alternative #4

Fireblocks

Best for trading institutions at $699/mo promotional pricing with advanced API co-signing and Web3/dApp protection, though pricing transparency limited after 6-month promo period

Price: $699/month
Pros:
  • Competitive pricing at $699/month
  • Solid core feature set
  • Reliable platform and support
Cons:
  • Some advanced features require higher-tier plans

Evaluation Criteria

  • regulatory compliance
  • security
  • AUM capacity
  • institutional features

How We Picked These

We evaluated 4 products (last researched 2026-01-30).

Price Weight: 5/5

Total cost including hidden fees and per-user pricing

Ease of Use Weight: 4/5

Learning curve, onboarding time, and user interface quality

Features Weight: 4/5

Core functionality required for institutions

Integrations Weight: 3/5

Compatibility with existing tools and workflows

Support Weight: 3/5

Documentation, customer service, and community resources

Frequently Asked Questions

01 What's the best federally regulated crypto custody?

Anchorage Digital is the only federally chartered crypto bank in the US, providing custody for 500+ assets with full federal banking oversight. This makes it the strongest choice for banks, hedge funds, and institutions requiring maximum regulatory compliance and banking-grade infrastructure, though pricing is fully customized.

02 How much does institutional crypto custody cost?

Institutional crypto custody typically costs 0.3-0.6% annually on assets under management. BitGo charges 0.6% (5 basis points/month) with transparent pricing. Coinbase Prime has $2,400/year minimum custody fees plus custom rates. Fireblocks starts at $699/month promotional pricing. Anchorage Digital uses fully custom institutional pricing.

03 Which crypto custody provider manages the most assets?

BitGo manages $90.3 billion in assets for 4,621 institutional clients as of 2026, demonstrating proven scale and institutional trust. Their transparent 0.6% annual AUM fee structure and support for 500+ digital assets make them a leading choice for large-scale institutional custody.

04 What's the best crypto custody for banks?

Anchorage Digital is purpose-built for banks as the first federally chartered crypto bank, offering seamless integration with traditional banking infrastructure, federal regulatory compliance, and comprehensive custody, trading, staking, and settlement services. Traditional banks requiring federal oversight should prioritize Anchorage Digital.

05 Should institutions use Fireblocks or BitGo?

Choose BitGo for transparent AUM-based pricing (0.6% annually) and proven scale ($90.3B managed). Choose Fireblocks for advanced trading features, API co-signing, and Web3/dApp protection starting at $699/month promotional pricing. BitGo offers better long-term cost predictability, while Fireblocks excels for institutions actively trading and managing dApps.

06 What hidden costs exist in institutional crypto custody?

Hidden institutional custody costs include: transaction overage fees (Fireblocks: 0.16-0.23%), withdrawal fees (BitGo: 0.25% on UTXO assets), network gas fees passed through, staking validator fees (Coinbase Prime: 5-20%), embedded wallet charges (Fireblocks: $0.40-$0.90/wallet), and trading fees separate from custody (Coinbase Prime: 0.1-0.6%). Always request itemized pricing across custody, trading, and staking.

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