Crypto Exchange Custody Hiring Signals 2026: The Institutional Arms Race
Institutional custody is the battleground for the next wave of crypto exchange revenue. And the hiring data shows a clear arms race underway.
Why Custody Matters
Institutional clients — funds, family offices, corporates — need custody solutions before they can allocate. The exchange that wins custody wins the flow. Custody fees are also recurring and sticky in ways that trading fees aren't.
The Custody Hiring Leaderboard
- Coinbase: 31 custody-related roles open. The clear leader. Building out Coinbase Custody Trust Company further.
- Kraken: 18 roles. Their score surge is partly driven by this. Serious competitor.
- OKX: 14 roles. Mostly APAC-focused custody hires.
- Bybit: 9 roles. Earlier stage but growing fast.
What This Predicts
Expect multiple custody-related announcements in Q2-Q3 2026: new custody tiers, regulatory approvals for custody in new jurisdictions, and potentially exchange custody partnerships or acquisitions.
We have 5 active custody-related predictions across 4 exchanges in Pro.