Anchorage Digital
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Cryptocurrency, Financial services |
| Founded | 2017 |
| Founder | Diogo Mónica, Nathan McCauley |
| Headquarters | United States |
Area served | Global |
| Products | Digital asset custody, investment, trading, lending, infrastructure solutions |
Anchorage Digital functions as a platform and infrastructure provider focused on digital assets, specializing in custody, investment, and infrastructure solutions for cryptocurrency and associated offerings. It holds the distinction of operating the first and only federally chartered cryptocurrency bank, authorized by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency in 2021.
History
Established in 2017 by Diogo Mónica and Nathan McCauley, Anchorage Digital secured early backing from prominent investors such as Andreessen Horowitz and Blockchain Capital.
The year 2020 saw Anchorage acquire Merkle Data, broadening its portfolio to encompass trading and financing services. Additionally, it launched an engineering center in Porto, Portugal, becoming the inaugural cryptocurrency unicorn with operations in that region.
In 2021, Anchorage Digital Bank was granted a federal banking charter by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, distinguishing it as the United States’ first federally chartered crypto bank. The firm was engaged by the United States Department of Justice to manage custody of digital assets confiscated during criminal investigations and notably became the first U.S. bank to hold a NFT, enabling Visa’s acquisition.
By December 2021, Anchorage had attracted investment from entities including KKR, Goldman Sachs, GIC (Singaporean sovereign wealth fund), and Wellington Management. In 2022, the company extended its reach into Asia through collaborations with institutional partners and inaugurated an office in Singapore. As of 2022, Anchorage Digital’s valuation exceeded $3 billion, maintaining its unique status as the sole federally chartered cryptocurrency bank into 2023.
Services
Anchorage Digital provides digital asset custody services tailored to financial institutions such as banks, venture capital firms, fintech companies, and government bodies. Utilizing biometric verification alongside hardware security modules, it ensures secure storage of cryptocurrencies. Beyond custody, the company delivers lending and trading capabilities for digital assets and supports enterprises developing cryptocurrency-related products through its infrastructure offerings.