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Crypto
Opening accounts with licensed crypto exchanges and custodians, for a company or for yourself.
- Company or personal accounts
- Onboarding prepared with you
- Providers that accept your profile
- Important information
What it is
Crypto accounts are opened with licensed exchanges and custodians. Each sets its own criteria for the clients and countries it accepts.
Who the account is for
Company account
A company can hold crypto-assets in its own name. The provider reviews the company, its owners and the purpose of the account.
The company's documents and its owners' details are part of the application.
Discuss a company accountPersonal account
An individual can open an account in their own name. The provider reviews your identity, residence and source of funds.
Your identity, residence and source of funds are part of the application.
Discuss a personal accountHow opening works
- 1ConsultationWe discuss what you want to hold, in whose name, and where you are resident.
- 2OnboardingThe provider's application, completed with the details it asks for.
- 3Identity checksThe provider verifies the account holder and, for a company, its owners and directors.
- 4Source of fundsDocuments that show where the money you invest comes from.
Account types
Each opens with how the account or structure works, who it suits, what the onboarding asks for and the investor protection that applies, with its sources.
- Exchange accountBuy, sell and hold crypto-assets with a licensed exchange.Details
- Custody accountKeys held for you by a licensed custodian, mostly in cold storage.Details
- OTC desk accountSingle-price execution for large trades, settled off the exchange.Details
- Corporate accountCrypto accounts in a company's name, for treasury, payments or a crypto business.Details
Exchange account
Buy, sell and hold crypto-assets with a licensed exchange.
- Holds
- Crypto-assets and fiat balances
- Opened with
- A licensed exchange (a CASP in the EU)
- Protection
- Segregation of client assets; no deposit guarantee
What it is
An exchange account lets you buy, sell and convert crypto-assets against fiat or other tokens and hold them on the platform. In the EU, exchanges are authorised under MiCA and must segregate client assets, hold capital and publish a white paper for each asset they list; elsewhere, the regimes of Dubai, Seychelles, Hong Kong and Singapore set their own rules.
What providers ask for
- Identity, address and liveness checks; for a company, its documents and owners
- Source of funds, and the origin of any crypto deposited (travel-rule data)
- Tax residence and, for retail clients in some markets, a knowledge test
Protection
- Client assets segregated from the platform's own under MiCA Article 70
- No deposit guarantee or investor-compensation scheme covers crypto-assets
- Fiat balances may be held with a bank or EMI under its own rules
Last reviewed: 2026-11-11
Custody account
Keys held for you by a licensed custodian, mostly in cold storage.
- Holds
- Crypto-assets in cold storage
- Opened with
- A licensed custodian
- Suits
- Companies, funds and larger holdings
What it is
A custodian holds the private keys for you, mostly offline, with multi-signature or hardware security, insurance and audited controls. It suits companies, funds and anyone holding more than they want to keep on an exchange. Trading happens elsewhere or through the custodian's settlement network.
What providers ask for
- Identity, company documents and beneficial owners
- The source of the assets and their on-chain history
- Authorised signatories and the approval policy for withdrawals
Last reviewed: 2026-11-11
OTC desk account
Single-price execution for large trades, settled off the exchange.
- Holds
- Large trades settled off the order book
- Opened with
- A licensed OTC desk or broker
- Suits
- Treasury allocations and block trades
What it is
An over-the-counter desk quotes a single price for a large trade and settles it against fiat or stablecoins, without moving the market on an exchange. It is how companies make treasury allocations and how funds enter and exit positions.
What providers ask for
- Institutional onboarding: company documents, owners, signatories
- Source of funds and settlement instructions on both legs
- A trading agreement setting the settlement terms
Last reviewed: 2026-11-11
Corporate account
Crypto accounts in a company's name, for treasury, payments or a crypto business.
- Holder
- A company or fund
- Opened with
- An exchange, custodian or OTC desk
- Review
- The business, its owners and why it holds crypto-assets
What it is
A company that accepts crypto payments, holds treasury in digital assets or runs a crypto business needs accounts in its own name. Providers review the business model, the licences it holds and the flows it expects, and many require a bank or EMI account beside the crypto account for fiat settlement.
What providers ask for
- Company documents, beneficial owners and directors
- The business model, licences and the expected volumes
- A board resolution and the withdrawal approval policy
Last reviewed: 2026-11-11
What providers ask for
The exact list depends on the provider. Most ask for:
- Identity documents and proof of address
- Company documents and details of owners, for a company account
- Information on your investment experience and objectives
- Evidence of the source of funds
Frequently asked questions
Still have a question?
Talk to usHow long does it take?
It depends on the jurisdiction, the provider and the documents involved. We give you an estimate for crypto accounts after the consultation.
What does it cost?
Costs depend on the jurisdiction and on the services you choose. We set them out for crypto accounts after the consultation, before any work starts.
Do I need to travel?
Some steps can be completed remotely and others need you in person. We tell you which applies to your case before you start.
Risk and regulatory notice
This page describes how investment accounts are opened. It is not investment advice, and it is not a recommendation to buy or sell any investment.
Investing involves risk. The value of investments can fall as well as rise, and you may get back less than you invest.
Providers are named only with their permission. The regulatory notice for this service is reviewed by our legal adviser before publication.
What comes next
Each service leads to the next: the structure, then the accounts, then the payments and the licence.
Plan your investment account
Talk to us- IncorporationForming a company or foundation, and keeping it in good standing.Talk to us
- BankingBusiness and personal accounts, and accepting payments.Talk to us
- LicensingFinancial licences for regulated activities.Talk to us
- InvestmentsOpening investment accounts for a company or for yourself.Talk to us