BitGo vs Anchorage Digital — Head-to-Head Custody Comparison
An independent, data-driven comparison of BitGo and Anchorage Digital across security, insurance, fees, regulatory compliance, and more.
Verdict
Quick Verdict
BitGo scores 8.2 vs Anchorage Digital's 7.9. BitGo leads in 5 of 8 categories.
BitGo is better suited for Institutions, Exchanges, Funds. Anchorage Digital is better suited for Institutions, Asset managers, Protocol treasuries.
Scores
Score Comparison
Weighted scores across all 8 custody criteria.
| Criterion | Weight | BitGo | Anchorage Digital | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Security | 20% | 9.0 | 9.5 | Anchorage Digital |
| Insurance | 15% | 8.5 | 8.0 | BitGo |
| Regulatory | 15% | 9.0 | 10.0 | Anchorage Digital |
| Fee Transparency | 10% | 6.5 | 4.0 | BitGo |
| Track Record | 15% | 9.0 | 8.0 | BitGo |
| Withdrawal Flexibility | 10% | 8.0 | 7.0 | BitGo |
| Reporting & Audit | 10% | 8.5 | 9.0 | Anchorage Digital |
| Counterparty Diversification | 5% | 3.0 | 2.0 | BitGo |
| Overall Score | 100% | 8.2 | 7.9 | BitGo |
Visual
Score Radar
Visual overlay of BitGo and Anchorage Digital across all categories.
Deep Dive
Category-by-Category Analysis
A deeper look at how each provider performs in every scoring criterion.
Security (9.0 vs 9.5)
BitGo uses Multi-signature + MPC key management with Majority cold in cold storage and regular penetration testing. Compliance: SOC 2 Type 2. Incident history: No major incidents. Minor service disruptions reported..
Anchorage Digital uses HSM + biometric authentication key management with Majority cold in cold storage and regular penetration testing. Compliance: SOC 2 Type 2. Incident history: No incidents.
Insurance (8.5 vs 8.0)
BitGo offers $250M policy limit via Lloyd's of London syndicate. Covers assets in hot and cold storage against theft and security breaches. Institutions should confirm per-asset limits and exclusions.
Anchorage Digital offers Significant coverage (not publicly disclosed) via Major carriers. As an OCC-chartered bank, subject to bank-level regulatory capital requirements.
Regulatory (9.0 vs 10.0)
BitGo holds South Dakota Trust Charter, New York BitLicense and is a qualified custodian operating in United States. BitGo Trust Company is a qualified custodian regulated by the South Dakota Division of Banking.
Anchorage Digital holds OCC National Trust Bank Charter and is a qualified custodian operating in United States. First and only federally chartered crypto bank. Highest level of US regulatory approval for a digital asset custodian.
Fee Transparency (6.5 vs 4.0)
BitGo charges Based on AUM — tiered pricing in annual custody fees with Varies per transaction. Enterprise pricing available. BitGo Go for smaller clients.
Anchorage Digital charges Custom in annual custody fees with Custom per transaction. Fully custom pricing for institutional clients. No self-serve option.
Track Record (9.0 vs 8.0)
BitGo was founded in 2013 and is headquartered in Palo Alto, CA. AUM: $64B+ in custody. Incident history: No major incidents. Minor service disruptions reported..
Anchorage Digital was founded in 2017 and is headquartered in San Francisco, CA. AUM: Not publicly disclosed (serves major institutions). Incident history: No incidents.
Withdrawal Flexibility (8.0 vs 7.0)
BitGo withdrawal fees: Network fees. Minimum account: Contact for pricing. Supported assets: Bitcoin, Ethereum, 700+ tokens.
Anchorage Digital withdrawal fees: Custom. Minimum account: Institutional only. Supported assets: Bitcoin, Ethereum, Multiple digital assets.
Reporting & Audit (8.5 vs 9.0)
BitGo: SOC compliance is SOC 2 Type 2. As a qualified custodian, it meets SEC reporting requirements.
Anchorage Digital: SOC compliance is SOC 2 Type 2. As a qualified custodian, it meets SEC reporting requirements.
Counterparty Diversification (3.0 vs 2.0)
BitGo is a qualified custodian provider. Key management: Multi-signature (2-of-3) with optional MPC. Keys split between client and BitGo..
Anchorage Digital is a qualified custodian provider. Key management: Proprietary HSM-based system with biometric authentication and multi-layer approval workflows..
Fees
Fee Comparison
Side-by-side fee breakdown for BitGo and Anchorage Digital.
| Fee Type | BitGo | Anchorage Digital |
|---|---|---|
| Setup Fee | Varies by plan | Custom institutional pricing |
| Annual Custody | Based on AUM — tiered pricing | Custom |
| Transaction | Varies | Custom |
| Withdrawal | Network fees | Custom |
BitGo: Enterprise pricing available. BitGo Go for smaller clients.
Anchorage Digital: Fully custom pricing for institutional clients. No self-serve option.
Features
Feature Comparison
Checklist of features across both providers.
| Feature | BitGo | Anchorage Digital |
|---|---|---|
| 700+ token support | ✓ | ✗ |
| Advanced governance and approval workflows | ✗ | ✓ |
| Biometric authentication | ✗ | ✓ |
| DeFi access from custody | ✗ | ✓ |
| DeFi and Web3 access | ✓ | ✗ |
| Federally chartered digital asset bank | ✗ | ✓ |
| Hot and cold storage options | ✓ | ✗ |
| Multi-signature wallets (2-of-3) | ✓ | ✗ |
| Policy engine for governance workflows | ✓ | ✗ |
| Portfolio and tax reporting | ✓ | ✗ |
| Staking from custody | ✗ | ✓ |
| Staking services | ✓ | ✗ |
| Trading and settlement | ✗ | ✓ |
Recommendation
Who Should Choose Which?
BitGo is better if you…
- ✓Are a institutions
- ✓Are a exchanges
- ✓Are a funds
- ✓Are a fintechs
- ✓Want: Industry-leading institutional track record since 2013
- ✓Want: $250M insurance coverage
- ✓Want: SOC 2 Type 2 compliant
Anchorage Digital is better if you…
- ✓Are a institutions
- ✓Are a asset managers
- ✓Are a protocol treasuries
- ✓Are a government entities
- ✓Want: Only federally chartered digital asset bank — highest US regulatory status
- ✓Want: Trusted by Visa, Samsung, and other blue-chip institutions
- ✓Want: SOC 2 Type 2 compliant
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is BitGo or Anchorage Digital better for Bitcoin custody?
BitGo scores 8.2 vs 7.9 in our weighted Custody Score. BitGo leads in 5 of 8 scoring categories. However, the best choice depends on your specific needs: BitGo is best for Institutions and Exchanges, while Anchorage Digital suits Institutions and Asset managers.
What is the difference between BitGo and Anchorage Digital?
BitGo is a qualified custodian provider, while Anchorage Digital is a qualified custodian provider. BitGo excels in Security, whereas Anchorage Digital is strongest in Regulatory.
How do BitGo and Anchorage Digital fees compare?
BitGo charges Based on AUM — tiered pricing annual custody fees with Varies transaction fees. Anchorage Digital charges Custom annual custody fees with Custom transaction fees.
Which is more secure, BitGo or Anchorage Digital?
BitGo scores 9.0/10 for security while Anchorage Digital scores 9.5/10. BitGo uses Multi-signature + MPC key management, and Anchorage Digital uses HSM + biometric authentication.
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