Global investment bank Nomura, digital asset manager CoinShares, and hardware wallet manufacturer Ledger, have finally launched their institutional-grade custody platform Komainu to the wider market.
They’re billing Komainu as the first hybrid institutional-grade custody platform that can seamlessly integrate with legacy financial technology.
CoinShares first examined existing custody products before deciding to develop their own solution in order to meet their security & business requirements back in 2018. The platform, under the leadership of CoinShares CEO, Jean-Marie Mognetti, is aimed at institutional players and will be regulated by the Jersey Financial Services Commission.
Mognetti explained the platform had been running with select clients since the start of the year:
"We have been trialing the platform with a limited number of clients for four to five months and are now launching to new clients."
Investment manager Fidelity and Intercontinental Exchange Inc also offer custody for digital assets.
Pioneering their own path
Ledger CEO, Pascal Gauthier said more established financial firms had specific needs for custody solutions:
“Institutions are looking for compliance and security when it comes to the custody of digital assets. [without the proper security] institutions' digital assets are weaponised against them.”
Mognetti said that “Komainu bridges the gap by bringing financial expertise and capabilities for institutional clients to feel confident their assets are in safe hands.”
Executives from Komainu include Kenton Farmer from Credit Suisse Group AG and Hermes Fund Managers, Andrew Morgill from Banco Santander and Susan Patterson from Credit Suisse, Brevan Howard and UBS.