BitGo vs Zodia Custody — Head-to-Head Custody Comparison

An independent, data-driven comparison of BitGo and Zodia Custody across security, insurance, fees, regulatory compliance, and more.

Verdict

Quick Verdict

BitGo scores 8.2 vs Zodia Custody's 7.2. BitGo leads in 7 of 8 categories.

BitGo is better suited for Institutions, Exchanges, Funds. Zodia Custody is better suited for Banks, Asset managers, Institutions.

8.2

Very GoodCustody Score

BitGo

7.2

GoodCustody Score

Zodia Custody

Scores

Score Comparison

Weighted scores across all 8 custody criteria.

Criterion	Weight	BitGo	Zodia Custody	Winner
Security	20%	9.0	8.5	BitGo
Insurance	15%	8.5	7.5	BitGo
Regulatory	15%	9.0	8.5	BitGo
Fee Transparency	10%	6.5	5.0	BitGo
Track Record	15%	9.0	6.5	BitGo
Withdrawal Flexibility	10%	8.0	7.0	BitGo
Reporting & Audit	10%	8.5	8.0	BitGo
Counterparty Diversification	5%	3.0	3.0	Tie
Overall Score	100%	8.2	7.2	BitGo

Visual

Score Radar

Visual overlay of BitGo and Zodia Custody across all categories.

BitGoZodia Custody

Deep Dive

Category-by-Category Analysis

A deeper look at how each provider performs in every scoring criterion.

Security (9.0 vs 8.5)

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..

Zodia Custody uses Institutional cold storage 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 7.5)

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.

Zodia Custody offers Institutional coverage via parent companies via Via Standard Chartered/Northern Trust. Backed by two of the world's largest financial institutions.

Regulatory (9.0 vs 8.5)

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.

Zodia Custody holds FCA registered (UK) and is not a qualified custodian operating in United Kingdom / Global. FCA registered. Backed by Standard Chartered and Northern Trust.

Fee Transparency (6.5 vs 5.0)

BitGo charges Based on AUM — tiered pricing in annual custody fees with Varies per transaction. Enterprise pricing available. BitGo Go for smaller clients.

Zodia Custody charges Custom in annual custody fees with Custom per transaction. Backed by Standard Chartered and Northern Trust.

Track Record (9.0 vs 6.5)

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..

Zodia Custody was founded in 2020 and is headquartered in London, UK. AUM: Not publicly disclosed. 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.

Zodia Custody withdrawal fees: Network fees. Minimum account: Institutional only. Supported assets: Bitcoin, Ethereum, Multiple digital assets.

Reporting & Audit (8.5 vs 8.0)

BitGo: SOC compliance is SOC 2 Type 2. As a qualified custodian, it meets SEC reporting requirements.

Zodia Custody: SOC compliance is SOC 2 Type 2. Not classified as a qualified custodian.

Counterparty Diversification (3.0 vs 3.0)

BitGo is a qualified custodian provider. Key management: Multi-signature (2-of-3) with optional MPC. Keys split between client and BitGo..

Zodia Custody is a qualified custodian provider. Key management: Institutional custody backed by Standard Chartered and Northern Trust..

Fees

Fee Comparison

Side-by-side fee breakdown for BitGo and Zodia Custody.

Fee Type	BitGo	Zodia Custody
Setup Fee	Varies by plan	Custom
Annual Custody	Based on AUM — tiered pricing	Custom
Transaction	Varies	Custom
Withdrawal	Network fees	Network fees

BitGo: Enterprise pricing available. BitGo Go for smaller clients.

Zodia Custody: Backed by Standard Chartered and Northern Trust.

Features

Feature Comparison

Checklist of features across both providers.

Feature	BitGo	Zodia Custody
700+ token support	✓	✗
DeFi access	✗	✓
DeFi and Web3 access	✓	✗
FCA registered	✗	✓
Hot and cold storage options	✓	✗
Institutional-grade security	✗	✓
Multi-signature wallets (2-of-3)	✓	✗
Northern Trust partnership	✗	✓
Policy engine for governance workflows	✓	✗
Portfolio and tax reporting	✓	✗
Staking services	✓	✓
Standard Chartered backed	✗	✓

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

Zodia Custody is better if you…

✓Are a banks
✓Are a asset managers
✓Are a institutions
✓Are a family offices
✓Want: Backed by Standard Chartered — tier-1 bank pedigree
✓Want: Northern Trust partnership
✓Want: FCA registered

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Is BitGo or Zodia Custody better for Bitcoin custody?

BitGo scores 8.2 vs 7.2 in our weighted Custody Score. BitGo leads in 7 of 8 scoring categories. However, the best choice depends on your specific needs: BitGo is best for Institutions and Exchanges, while Zodia Custody suits Banks and Asset managers.

What is the difference between BitGo and Zodia Custody?

BitGo is a qualified custodian provider, while Zodia Custody is a qualified custodian provider. BitGo excels in Security, whereas Zodia Custody is strongest in Security.

How do BitGo and Zodia Custody fees compare?

BitGo charges Based on AUM — tiered pricing annual custody fees with Varies transaction fees. Zodia Custody charges Custom annual custody fees with Custom transaction fees.

Which is more secure, BitGo or Zodia Custody?

BitGo scores 9.0/10 for security while Zodia Custody scores 8.5/10. BitGo uses Multi-signature + MPC key management, and Zodia Custody uses Institutional cold storage.