KeyBank, an American regional bank, has unveiled plans to allow customers to buy, store, and trade bitcoin (BTC) and other crypto assets directly from their bank accounts. The new offering will be made available to approximately 3.5 million users through the bank’s internal platform.
The move follows new guidance from U.S. financial regulators that permits banks to provide crypto-related services. However, institutions offering these services must meet strict requirements on risk controls, record-keeping, and anti-money laundering compliance.
KeyBank to Offer Crypto Access with Regulatory Support
To deliver its BTC service, KeyBank will work with licensed third-party firms. These partners will support custody and transaction operations while ensuring the bank remains aligned with federal regulations.
Building on this structure, KeyBank plans to integrate bitcoin services directly into its banking system, eliminating the need for clients to use external cryptocurrency apps or exchanges. While specific details, such as fees and access limits, have not been shared, the bank states that eligible clients will soon be able to use the feature.
With this rollout, KeyBank—which oversees roughly $185 billion in assets—joins the ranks of larger traditional banks entering the crypto space. Customers who hold BTC through the bank may gain stronger legal protections compared to using unregulated platforms.
These protections stem from a more transparent legal framework around crypto custody for banks, outlined by agencies such as the Federal Reserve, the FDIC, and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. These regulators require banks to adhere to the same operational standards for crypto as they do for traditional financial products.
Traditional Banks Expand Crypto Services
Other banks have taken similar steps. U.S. Bank and Standard Chartered have both introduced Bitcoin custody or access services for their customers.
PNC Bank has also joined the trend by partnering with Coinbase to launch a Crypto-as-a-Service platform. The offering will allow selected clients, particularly those in wealth management, to engage with digital assets using their PNC accounts.
Additionally, PNC is providing certain banking services to Coinbase as part of this arrangement. The Federal Reserve ranks PNC as the seventh-largest U.S. bank by domestic assets, ahead of Goldman Sachs.
Ephraim Emmanuel | June 16, 2026
