According to CoinMeta, Citibank announced that it will launch a new Custody+ platform in 2026, with plans to introduce Bitcoin custody services on that platform, initially targeting institutional customers. The bank will place Bitcoin and traditional securities within the same operational framework, which could reduce reliance on independent crypto custody providers and decentralized reporting systems. Citibank announced this timeline on August 18th, along with near-real-time custody and settlement services. Although Bitcoin traded near $64,700 after the announcement, Citibank did not link the service to price expectations. Citibank stated that the service will be based on its common digital asset architecture, and customers will have access to both traditional and crypto custody capabilities through a single framework. Bitcoin will be the first asset supported, and Citibank’s Bitcoin service will be closely integrated with its existing custody business, which serves customers in over 100 markets, including 62 that use Citibank’s proprietary network. Citibank’s services department invests over $2 billion annually in platform development.