Binance Teams up With BBVA for Off-Exchange Custody

Crypto exchange Binance has reportedly teamed up with Spain’s BBVA to enable clients to store collateral outside the trading platform. In this arrangement, BBVA — the nation’s third-largest lender — will act as an independent custodian, holding client funds in US Treasuries that Binance accepts as margin for trades. The collaboration aims to reduce counterparty risk, a priority for investors since the 2022 collapse of FTX left billions trapped in bankruptcy. Industry sources cite BBVA’s strong “name recognition” as a driver of confidence, while the move underscores a broader trend of traditional banks embracing crypto services under clearer US and EU regulations. BBVA has recently expanded its digital asset offerings, launching bitcoin and ether trading via its Spanish mobile app and advising private banking clients to invest up to 7% of portfolios in cryptocurrencies. Binance already works with independent custodians such as Switzerland’s Sygnum and FlowBank, but BBVA’s entry marks a notable milestone in mainstream adoption.