This article is Sponsored Content by Liam Hunt, Financial Writer
It’s 2025, and crypto is everywhere. Adoption is growing fast, and whether you’re just getting started or you’ve been investing for years, one thing matters more than ever: buying and holding your crypto securely.
Security isn’t just another feature to check off, it’s the foundation of trust. Some companies may impress you with sleek interfaces and smooth user experiences, but what really counts is what’s happening behind the scenes.
How is your crypto stored? Who’s guarding it? And what systems are in place to keep it safe? Thankfully, some companies are finally doing it right. They’re rethinking crypto custody with real compliance, real asset protection, and real customer support.
Here are five top crypto companies for security and custody in 2025, chosen based on their security procedures, custody, and overall ability to protect your assets.
iTrustCapital – Best Overall
There’s a new gold standard for crypto storage, security, and custody, and it’s iTrustCapital. In 2025, no one is redefining secure crypto ownership like they are. While most companies focus on quick trades and flashy features, iTrustCapital has been steadily building a system designed to protect crypto assets the right way.
This year, they’ve expanded outside the world of Crypto IRAs, introducing their Premium Custody Account (PCA) to the broader market. It’s a non-IRA account that allows clients to buy, sell, and securely custody crypto 24/7 – with a level of security and structure that most platforms simply don’t match.
This is all thanks to their closed-loop system. Unlike a traditional exchange where crypto can be sent out from your account, PCA operates within a secure, closed-loop environment: you can deposit both USD from your linked U.S. bank account or transfer in existing crypto in-kind, and when you’re ready to withdraw, it can only be sent in USD (cash) back to a bank account that’s on file.
Premium Custody Accounts are designed for crypto to never leave your account. This is crypto custody and security done properly, backed by top-tier institutional providers and regulated custodians.
Why it makes the list:
- Closed-loop security eliminates external risk from crypto being hacked or drained out of an account
- Backed by top-tier institutional custody.
- Assets held 1:1 off balance sheet
- US-based live customer support
iTrustCapital is setting the new standard for how serious investors protect their assets. Quietly and effectively, it’s become a top crypto company for security & custody.
Coinbase
Coinbase is a widely recognized name in crypto, and for many people, it’s their first introduction to the space. With a strong U.S. brand presence and a clean user experience, it has positioned itself as a relatively stable entry point, especially compared to some of the more opaque global exchanges.
As a publicly traded company, Coinbase is subject to SEC filings, audits, and public scrutiny, which adds a layer of oversight that most platforms simply don’t have. From a security standpoint, Coinbase implements many of the expected protocols: the majority of assets are held in cold storage and it offers some internal monitoring to help flag suspicious behavior. The platform also includes an optional Vault feature, allowing users to add a time delay before withdrawals are processed.
However, it’s important to remember that Coinbase is a centralized exchange, and like others in that category, it operates on a balance sheet model. Customer assets, while stored with care, are technically still part of the company’s financial ecosystem. That can feel uneasy to some, especially considering how high-profile exchange failures and breaches have played out in recent years.
Why it makes the list:
- Publicly traded with U.S. regulatory oversight
- The majority of crypto is held in cold storage
- The optional Vault feature adds withdrawal controls
Coinbase remains one of the most visible names in crypto, but like all exchanges, it comes with structural risks that may not be obvious to day-to-day crypto users.
Kraken
Kraken is one of the oldest crypto exchanges still operating, and in an industry where platforms come and go, that kind of tenure does stand out. Over the years, it’s carved out a reputation for being more measured in how it handles customer assets and platform controls.
From a security standpoint, Kraken does what you’d expect from a platform of its size. It keeps the majority of funds in offline cold storage, supports user-side protections like global settings lock and withdrawal whitelists, and was one of the first to introduce a formal Proof of Reserves (PoR) audit. It uses a cryptographic process that lets users verify that their holdings are backed one-to-one.
That said, Kraken still operates on a balance sheet model, meaning client assets are held within the company’s financial structure. In an industry with a history of exchange failures, that model still carries risk, even for platforms with solid reputations.
Why it makes the list:
- Over a decade of continuous operation
- Cold storage for the majority of user assets
- Early adopter of Proof of Reserves auditing
Kraken has in fact earned a reputation for caution. However, like all exchanges, it still carries the underlying risks of the exchange model.
Gemini
Gemini is often viewed as one of the more compliance-focused platforms in crypto. Founded in the U.S. and regulated by the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS), the company has leaned into a conservative, regulation-first brand since day one. It was among the first exchanges to earn SOC 2 Type 2 certification, a third-party audit that evaluates how well a company secures and manages customer data.
For U.S. dollar balances, Gemini partners with large institutions, making some funds eligible for FDIC “pass-through” insurance, subject to standard limits. It also holds limited insurance coverage on crypto stored in its online hot wallet, though the majority of customer assets are kept offline in cold storage.
But like most exchanges, Gemini still operates on a balance sheet model, meaning client assets remain part of the company’s financial structure. While its regulated setup adds some stability, that underlying structure carries the same risks present across the centralized exchange category.
Why it makes the list:
- Regulated by NYDFS
- Cold storage for most crypto assets
- FDIC “pass-through” insurance on eligible USD balances
Gemini takes a more structured, regulation-forward approach, but it still reflects the same limitations seen in other exchanges.
Crypto.com
Crypto.com is known for its mobile-first design and big marketing pushes from stadium naming rights, sponsorships and celebrity endorsements. But the company has worked to build out an infrastructure aimed at meeting baseline industry security standards.
The platform holds several third-party certifications, including ISO/IEC 27001, PCI DSS Level 1, and SOC 2 compliance, which reflect how it handles user data, transactions, and operational controls. It stores the majority of customer assets in cold storage, and has built-in features like 2FA, address whitelisting, and real-time risk monitoring to help reduce exposure.
Again, like other exchanges, it operates on a balance sheet model, meaning assets are held as part of the company’s financials. With past headlines raising questions around reserves, some users may approach with caution.
Why it makes the list:
- Third-party security certifications (ISO, SOC 2, PCI DSS)
- Cold storage for most user funds
- Built-in risk monitoring and user protections
Crypto.com has made efforts to improve its infrastructure, but it still reflects the common risks and opacity found in centralized exchanges.
Setting a New Standard in Crypto Security
Security in crypto has never mattered more than it does today. With mainstream adoption here and growing, the platforms that will last are the ones that take protection seriously. Marketing isn’t always going to do it. What matters is how clients’ assets are actually handled through secure custody, risk, and user support behind the scenes.
With long-time exchanges like Kraken and Coinbase, to compliance-driven names like Gemini and Crypto.com, each platform brings something different to the table. But they also all share a similar challenge: the exchange model where customer assets are often held on the company’s balance sheet still leaves room for risk.
That’s where iTrustCapital stands out.
By moving away from the typical exchange structure and into a closed-loop, off-balance sheet custody model, iTrustCapital is doing what the rest of the industry hasn’t: building security into the foundation. With institutional-grade custodians, secure asset segregation, and U.S.-based support, it’s redefining what it means to store crypto securely.
If you’re thinking long-term, wealth protection, or just peace of mind, iTrustCapital is setting the new benchmark for how it should be done.
