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BNY Mellon

B
World's Largest Custodian BankSPOFInstitutions & Fund Managers

BNY Mellon is the world's largest custodian bank with over $52 trillion in assets under custody. It holds USDC cash reserves for Circle, custodies assets for 11 spot Bitcoin ETFs, and provides digital asset custody services. BNY Mellon's Digital Asset Custody platform launched in 2022, offering institutional-grade safekeeping for digital assets.

Visit BNY Mellon
By Steve L, Editorial Lead·Reviewed by Proof of Custody Editorial
·Last updated Mar 2, 2026
76
Custody & SecurityEase of UseFeesFeaturesTransparencySupport
Score Breakdown
Custody & Security35% weight
88
Ease of Use20% weight
58
Fees15% weight
55
Features10% weight
62
Transparency10% weight
85
Support10% weight
78
Assessment
Key Strength

World's largest custodian bank ($52T+ in assets under custody). Holds USDC cash reserves for Circle. Custodies assets for 11 Bitcoin ETFs. Unmatched regulatory credibility and balance sheet.

Primary Risk

Traditional bank infrastructure — slower innovation than crypto-native custodians. Digital asset custody is a small fraction of overall business. Premium institutional pricing.

Pros
  • +Unmatched custodial track record (240+ years)
  • +Highest regulatory credibility
  • +Massive balance sheet and insurance
  • +USDC reserve custody partner
Cons
  • -Premium institutional pricing only
  • -Slower digital asset innovation
  • -Complex enterprise onboarding
  • -Digital assets are small part of overall business
Custody Features
✕Multisig
✕Multi-Institution
✕No Single Point of Failure
Segregated Accounts
✕Proof of Reserves
Insurance
Regulated Custodian
No Physical Exposure
Multi-Jurisdiction
✕Inheritance
Segregated Insurance
✕IRA
✕Lending
✕Buy/Sell
✕Dynasty Trusts
Fees
Custom institutional pricing
MinimumInstitutional only
Security
Key Management
Institutional banking infrastructure
SOC Compliance
SOC 1 Type 2, SOC 2 Type 2
Penetration Testing
Regulatory
✓Qualified Custodian
Jurisdiction
United States
Licenses
NY State Banking Charter, Federal Reserve Member, SEC Registered
Custody Independence Standard
0 of 4 pillars met
Vendor independenceNot met
Entropy independenceNot publicly documented
Control independenceNot met
Operational independenceDepends on configuration

1 independent party or system must fail before a BNY Mellon holder's bitcoin is at risk.

  • •A single institution controls the keys, so its compromise, insolvency, or unilateral action is sufficient to put funds at risk.
  • •Regulated status and segregation can protect assets in insolvency, but they do not create independence of control.
How this is assessed →
Insurance

BNY Mellon's custody insurance is not publicly disclosed.

Frequently asked questions
Is BNY Mellon safe?+

BNY Mellon uses a world's largest custodian bank model and scores 76/100 in our independent review, including 88/100 on custody security. One institution can move funds, which is a single point of failure. Safety depends on your priorities; see the full score breakdown above.

Is my bitcoin insured at BNY Mellon?+

BNY Mellon's custody insurance is not publicly disclosed in a form we can verify. Where it exists, custody insurance covers specific named events up to shared limits and does not cover price loss. Confirm coverage in writing before relying on it.

What happens to my bitcoin if BNY Mellon fails?+

Because BNY Mellon holds custody through a single institution, recovery in a failure would run through that institution's bankruptcy or resolution process and depends on whether assets were segregated and properly titled. This is the concentration risk of single-custodian models.

Does BNY Mellon support inheritance?+

BNY Mellon does not advertise a dedicated inheritance or beneficiary feature in the data we track. Confirm current options with the provider, since custody inheritance handling changes.

Compare

BNY Mellon vs Others

vs OnrampA
90/100
vs Onramp FinanceA
89/100
vs UnchainedA-
85/100
vs Onramp LendingA-
84/100