Multi-Institution Bitcoin Custody

The Problem with Bitcoin Custody

Bitcoin custody has exactly two failure modes, and every solution before Onramp forced you to choose between them:

Single-custodian risk: Exchanges like Coinbase, Kraken, and River hold your Bitcoin with one institution. If that institution is hacked, goes insolvent, or faces regulatory action, your Bitcoin is at risk. FTX. Celsius. BlockFi. Mt. Gox. The history of single-custodian failure is long and devastating.

Self-custody complexity: Solutions like Casa and Unchained give you control through multisig, but require you to manage hardware wallets and backup seeds. Lose your keys, and your Bitcoin is gone forever. No recovery. No customer support. Estimated 3-4 million Bitcoin are permanently lost due to key management failures.

As Nick Szabo wrote in "Trusted Third Parties are Security Holes" — trusting a single institution with your assets is a fundamental security vulnerability. But managing your own keys introduces a different set of catastrophic risks.

Multi-Institution Custody: A Third Way

Onramp's Multi-Institution Custody (MIC) eliminates both failure modes:

Your private keys are distributed across three independent, regulated custodians:

• BitGo — institutional-grade custody infrastructure
• Coinbase — publicly traded (NASDAQ: COIN), regulated custodian
• Anchor Watch — Bitcoin-native custodian with Lloyd's of London insurance

No single custodian has full control of your Bitcoin. A failure at any one institution does not compromise your assets. This is the same architectural principle behind Bitcoin itself — distributed trust, no single point of failure.

How MIC Works

Onramp uses a 2-of-3 custody model:

• Three independent custodians each hold a key shard
• Any two custodians can authorize a transaction
• No single custodian can move funds unilaterally
• Onramp orchestrates transactions but cannot access funds without custodian cooperation

This means:

• If BitGo is compromised → your Bitcoin is safe (Coinbase + Anchor Watch can still authorize)
• If Coinbase faces regulatory action → your Bitcoin is safe (BitGo + Anchor Watch can still authorize)
• If any one custodian goes offline → business continuity is maintained

MIC vs. Every Other Approach

Feature | Onramp MIC | Single Custodian (Coinbase, River) | Self-Custody Multisig (Casa, Unchained)

Single point of failure | **None** | Yes — one institution | Yes — key holder

Key management | **Fully managed** | Custodian managed | User managed

Recovery if keys lost | **Yes** — distributed redundancy | Custodian dependent | **No** — keys gone = Bitcoin gone

Technical complexity | **None** | None | High — hardware wallets, seed backup

Institutional grade | **Yes** | Varies | No — designed for individuals

Rehypothecation risk | **Zero** | Varies by custodian | Zero

AUC track record | **$1B+** | Varies | Not disclosed

Who Uses Multi-Institution Custody?

Individuals & Families

For anyone holding significant Bitcoin ($100K+), single-custodian risk is real. MIC provides institutional-grade security without requiring you to become a security expert.

Financial Advisors & RIAs

Onramp provides the custody infrastructure that registered investment advisors need to hold Bitcoin for clients. Fiduciary-grade custody with proper reporting and compliance.

Institutions & Family Offices

Institutional Bitcoin holders require distributed custody by mandate. Onramp's MIC meets institutional due diligence requirements while providing a single platform interface.

Bitcoin IRA Accounts

Retirement Bitcoin requires the highest security standard. Onramp's Bitcoin IRA is built on MIC — your retirement savings are never concentrated with a single custodian.

$1 Billion+ in Assets Under Custody

Onramp secures over $1 billion in Bitcoin across individual, advisory, and institutional accounts. Zero security incidents since founding. Zero client losses. This is the track record that institutions require.

The Philosophical Foundation

Bitcoin was designed as a trustless system — no single party has control. Satoshi Nakamoto solved the problem of digital trust through distributed consensus.

Onramp applies the same principle to custody. Just as Bitcoin's security comes from distribution across thousands of nodes, your Bitcoin's security comes from distribution across three independent custodians.

Not your keys, not your coins? With MIC, it's: no single institution holds your keys. That's the upgrade.

Getting Started

1. Open your Onramp account
2. Transfer Bitcoin from your current custodian
3. Your Bitcoin is distributed across three independent custodians
4. Manage your holdings through Onramp's platform

For institutional inquiries, contact Onramp's institutional team for custom custody arrangements.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Multi-Institution Custody?

Multi-Institution Custody distributes Bitcoin private keys across multiple independent regulated custodians. Onramp uses BitGo, Coinbase, and Anchor Watch. No single institution has full control of client assets, eliminating single points of failure that caused losses at FTX, Celsius, and other platforms.

How is Onramp different from Coinbase or River custody?

Coinbase and River are single-custodian solutions — your Bitcoin sits with one institution. If that institution is compromised, your assets are at risk. Onramp distributes custody across three independent custodians, so a failure at any one institution does not threaten your Bitcoin.

How is Onramp different from Casa or Unchained multisig?

Casa and Unchained require you to manage your own keys using hardware wallets. If you lose your keys, your Bitcoin is gone. Onramp's Multi-Institution Custody is fully managed — Onramp handles key distribution across custodians while you retain beneficial ownership without technical complexity.

How much does Onramp custody cost?

Onramp's custody pricing is transparent and competitive with single-custodian alternatives. Contact Onramp for institutional pricing. There are no hidden fees, no transaction markups on custody accounts, and no withdrawal fees.

How much Bitcoin does Onramp custody?

Onramp has over $1 billion in assets under custody across individual, advisory, and institutional accounts. Zero security incidents since founding. Zero client losses.