Grayscale Investments has tapped Coinbase Custody to serve as the new security provider for its digital asset holdings, the companies announced Friday.
The custodian, which Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong says already holds $1 billion in assets, will act as the custodian for Grayscaleâs single-asset and diversified investment products.
Grayscale claims to hold $2.7 billion in total assets under management, according to its most recent quarterly report, more than doubling its Q1 holdings of $1.2 billion.
Grayscale holds bitcoin, bitcoin cash, ethereum, ethereum classic, litecoin, Stellar lumens, XRP and zcash. Coinbase Custody also intends to hold Grayscaleâs horizen (ZEN) token, pending regulatory approval to support the asset.
Most of the assets are being transferred to Coinbase Custody from Grayscaleâs existing security provider, Xapo. The private keys for Grayscaleâs horizen are also currently being held by the Digital Asset Custody Company, which bitcoin futures platform Bakkt acquired earlier this year.
Coinbase Custody began holding Grayscaleâs assets on July 29, according to a press release. Coinbase Custody is regulated through the New York Department of Financial Services, and is a regulated fiduciary under New Yorkâs banking law.
In a statement, Coinbase Custody CEO Sam McIngvale explained that the business is âheld to the same fiduciary standards as national banks. We also offer some of the broadest and deepest insurance coverage in the crypto industry.â
He added:
âGrayscale and Coinbase have led the way in providing safe, secure, trustworthy, and regulated access to digital assets. Grayscale is an established, trusted, and valuable partner to its clients and its service providers should be the same.â
Under the agreement, Coinbase Custody will hold Grayscaleâs assets for three years at the outset, charging a fee based on the assets under custody. Both companies have escape clauses for the three-year period, according to a press release. Once the initial term ends, each company can terminate the partnership with 90 daysâ notice.
Brian Armstrong image via CoinDesk archives