The Pomp Podcast
#438 Diogo Monica on Crypto Custody
- Diogo Monica's background spans academic research in distributed systems, early-stage payments work at Square (where he has a patent on encrypted card readers), and security infrastructure at Docker before co-founding Anchorage three years ago.
- Anchorage evolved from consulting engagements into a regulated digital asset platform offering custody, trading, financing, staking, governance participation, and DeFi integration for institutions.
- The company recently filed for a national bank charter with the OCC, positioning it potentially as the first federally chartered national bank offering crypto-native services.
- Institutional adoption has accelerated dramatically; early clients (crypto funds, VCs) have been joined by miners, protocol treasuries, large asset managers, and increasingly traditional banks and fintech players seeking to offer crypto services.
- Every major bank and financial institution now faces pressure to develop a crypto strategy; bulge bracket banks pursue subcustodian partnerships and lending products, while challenger banks want consumer-facing offerings.
- Anchorage's competitive advantages include superior security (better than cold storage without time delays), SOC 1 certification, Aon insurance, qualified custodian status, and support for hundreds of assets—all reducing career risk for institutional buyers.