Wall Street Opens Up to Self-Custody Bitcoin

Financial institutions are making it easier for users to convert self-custody Bitcoin into Wall Street-recognized shares. BlackRock lowered its minimum conversion threshold from $25 million to $1 million in July, while Bitwise cut its floor from $100 million to $3 million.

The changes allow a larger class of family offices and wealthy clients to participate in the service. BlackRock's program has already processed over $5 billion worth of conversions, with each transaction preserving exposure to Bitcoin price while placing coins inside the fund's custody structure.

This shift reduces friction for wealthy holders who can now convert their Bitcoin into ETF shares through a single institutional transaction. The lower threshold turns self-custody from a permanent identity into a service choice whose costs can be measured against an institutional alternative.