TechFlame News – According to Crowdfund Insider, Nisha Surendran, Head of Digital Asset Custody Development at Citi, announced at an industry event hosted by Strategy that Citi plans to integrate Bitcoin into its core banking operations by late 2026, offering institutional-grade custody services, key management, and wallet systems. The platform will extend traditional tax reporting, compliance oversight, and risk management processes to Bitcoin holdings, while supporting 24/7 operations, SWIFT global transfer messaging, and API connectivity. With approximately $30 trillion in assets under management, Citi aims to remove operational barriers for institutional investors such as pension funds and insurance companies in accessing crypto assets. Surendran stated that the initial phase will launch core custody functionalities, with subsequent expansions planned for services such as asset segregation and collateral management.