BG
OCC-Regulated National Trust Bank

BitGo: The Digital Asset Infrastructure Company

Complete guide to the world's leading institutional crypto custodian. Multi-signature security, Go Network settlement, and prime brokerage services.

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18 min read
Jan 22, 2026
#1 Custodian & Staking Provider

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$104B+
Assets on Platform
9.3M+
Wallets Created
700+
Tokens Supported
2013
Founded
Official Website
bitgo.com
Trusted by 1500+ institutional clients globally
Visit BitGo

What is BitGo?

BitGo is the world's leading digital asset infrastructure company, providing institutional-grade custody, wallet, and financial services for cryptocurrencies. Founded in 2013 by Mike Belshe and Ben Davenport in Palo Alto, California, BitGo pioneered the commercial use of multi-signature wallet technology that has become the industry standard for securing digital assets.

As a federally chartered national trust bank (approved by the OCC), BitGo provides regulated qualified custody services trusted by over 1,500 institutional clients globally, including major cryptocurrency exchanges, hedge funds, ETF issuers, and corporate treasuries. The platform processes approximately 20% of all on-chain Bitcoin transactions by value.

BitGo serves 1,500+ institutional clients across 50+ countries

Who Uses BitGo?

Banks
Hedge Funds
Exchanges
ETF Issuers
Trading Firms
Retail Platforms

Key Features & Capabilities

Multi-Signature Security

Industry-pioneering 2-of-3 multi-sig technology eliminates single points of failure and enables secure recovery.

Federally Regulated

OCC-approved national trust bank with SOC 2 Type 2 certification. Trusted by institutions globally.

$250M Insurance

Comprehensive insurance coverage protects assets in qualified custody against theft and security breaches.

Go Network Settlement

Instant off-exchange settlement with major exchanges. Trade without pre-funding while assets stay in cold storage.

Multi-Signature Security (2-of-3)

BitGo pioneered multi-signature wallets in 2013. Transactions require 2 of 3 keys, eliminating single points of failure.

No Single Point of Failure

Even if one key is compromised, funds remain secure. The 2-of-3 threshold ensures both security and recoverability.

Security & Compliance

Security Technology

  • Multi-signature (2-of-3) wallet architecture
  • HSM (Hardware Security Module) protection
  • Air-gapped cold storage for keys
  • Configurable policy engine (whitelists, velocity limits)

Regulatory Compliance

  • OCC-chartered national trust bank
  • SOC 2 Type 2 certified
  • AML/KYC compliant processes
  • Multiple global regulated entities

$250 Million Insurance Coverage

Industry-Leading Protection

BitGo's qualified custody wallets are protected by up to $250 million in insurance coverage through Lloyd's of London, covering theft from hacking, insider attacks, and private key compromise. Assets are held in bankruptcy-remote structures for additional protection.

$250M
Coverage
Lloyd's
Underwriter
Bankruptcy
Remote

Custody Solutions Comparison

Qualified Custody

  • BitGo holds all 3 keys
  • Regulated trust company
  • $250M insurance coverage
  • SOC 2 Type 2 audited
Best for: Institutions, ETFs, Funds

Self-Custody Hot

  • Client holds 2 keys
  • BitGo co-signs
  • Policy-based approvals
  • Instant transactions
Best for: Exchanges, Active Traders

Self-Custody Cold

  • Keys never online
  • Air-gapped signing
  • Maximum security
  • Compliance friendly
Best for: Long-term Holdings, Treasuries

Products & Services

Qualified Custody

Institutional-grade custody with regulatory compliance

  • OCC-regulated trust
  • $250M insurance
  • Cold storage
  • Segregated accounts

Wallet-as-a-Service

White-label wallet infrastructure for businesses

  • API & SDK access
  • 700+ tokens
  • Policy engine
  • Custom branding

Prime Trading

Institutional crypto trading with best execution

  • 250+ trading pairs
  • TWAP/VWAP algos
  • 24/7 execution
  • API & UI access

Go Network

Off-exchange settlement infrastructure

  • Instant settlement
  • DVP support
  • Major exchanges
  • No counterparty risk

Go Network: Off-Exchange Settlement

Trade on major exchanges without pre-funding. Assets stay in cold storage while you execute trades.

Go
Network
HTX
HTX
KC
KuCoin
GT
Gate.io
DB
Deribit
STS
STS Digital
Instant
Settlement
Cold Storage
Assets Secured
24/7
Availability

Conclusion

BitGo has established itself as the backbone of institutional cryptocurrency infrastructure over the past decade. From pioneering multi-signature technology in 2013 to becoming a federally regulated national trust bank, BitGo consistently leads in innovation while maintaining the highest security standards.

Whether you're a hedge fund seeking qualified custody, an exchange needing wallet infrastructure, or a trading firm requiring off-exchange settlement through Go Network, BitGo provides enterprise-grade solutions backed by $250M in insurance and regulatory compliance.

Ready to Explore BitGo?

Discover why 1,500+ institutions trust BitGo with over $104 billion in digital assets.

Visit BitGo.com

Referral Code

TRADEOFF20

Check TRADEOFF20 fee terms before your first trade

Sign Up Now

Referral Code

TRADEOFF20

Check TRADEOFF20 fee terms before your first trade

Sign Up Now

Sources

People-first next steps

Follow the custody sequence before you move a larger balance

Start with exchange risk, then decide who should hold the keys, back up the seed, compare the hardware-wallet path, and only then move funds with transfer hygiene.

01
Exchange-risk boundary

Decide what stays on the exchange before anything moves

Compare exchange safety, withdrawal controls, and support risk so the custody boundary matches the job you actually need.

Review exchange risk

Is It Safe to Keep Your Crypto on an Exchange? 2026

Comprehensive analysis of exchange security vs self-custody. Learn about Proof of Reserves and SAFU funds.

Self-Custody Wallet Guide: When to Move Crypto Off-Exchange in 2026

Practical self-custody guide: decide when exchange custody is safer, test withdrawals, protect seed phrases, plan recovery, and reduce wallet risks.

02
Custody split

Choose self-custody or third-party custody before you move a larger balance

Decide whether BitGo-style custody, a wallet you control, or a mix of both fits the balance you plan to hold.

Map the custody split

Self-Custody Wallet Guide: When to Move Crypto Off-Exchange in 2026

Practical self-custody guide: decide when exchange custody is safer, test withdrawals, protect seed phrases, plan recovery, and reduce wallet risks.

Hot vs Cold Wallet Guide

Compare hot and cold wallet tradeoffs around custody boundaries, seed backups, recovery practice, signing checks, approvals, supported networks, and small test transfers before moving meaningful funds.

03
Seed backup

Back up the recovery seed before you move a larger balance

Recovery failures happen when the backup plan is vague. Store the seed offline and understand the key material behind it.

Store the backup properly

Seed Phrase Storage Guide: Backups, Recovery Drills, and Failure Modes

Practical seed phrase backup guide covering offline storage, paper vs metal, recovery testing, passphrase risk, inheritance planning, and exposed-seed response.

Public and Private Key Guide: Seed Phrases, Signing, and Backups

Understand public keys, private keys, seed phrases, signing approvals, backups, address checks, recovery drills, and safer self-custody habits.

04
Hardware follow-up

Review the hardware-wallet route if you want stronger personal control

A hardware wallet protects the assets after they leave institutional custody, so review the device path before you move a larger balance.

Review hardware wallet fit

Best Hardware Wallets 2026: Ledger vs Trezor vs SafePal — Full Comparison

In-depth comparison of the best hardware wallets in 2026. Ledger Nano X, Trezor Safe 5, SafePal S1 reviewed. Compare security, price, features, and find the best wallet for your crypto.

Ledger Hardware Wallet Guide: Seed Backups, Blind Signing, and Transfers

Compare Ledger devices and learn practical safety checks for seed backups, recovery tests, supported networks, blind signing, firmware hygiene, test transfers, and custody boundaries.

05
Transfer hygiene

Move with the right network and a recovery boundary

Use the correct network, verify a small transfer, and review the recovery boundary before you move a larger balance.

Check transfer hygiene

How to Transfer USDT from Binance to MetaMask (Low Fees) 2026

Step-by-step guide to transfer USDT from Binance to MetaMask with lowest fees. Compare TRC20, BEP20, and ERC20 networks.

How to Recover Funds Sent to the Wrong Network 2026

Step-by-step guide to recovering crypto sent to wrong blockchain networks. ERC20/BEP20 recovery included.

Back to Blog

This content is for educational purposes only. Trading cryptocurrencies involves significant risk. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Always do your own research and only invest what you can afford to lose.

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