About Fireblocks
Fireblocks is an institutional wallet, transfer and digital asset operations platform founded in 2018. Its software can support self-custody, direct-custody and sub-custody operating models. Regulated custody is offered through a distinct legal entity, Fireblocks Trust Company, LLC. Institutional buyers should identify the contracting entity, service perimeter and jurisdiction before treating any Fireblocks service as regulated custody.
Is Fireblocks a custodian or an infrastructure provider?
Both descriptions can be correct, but they refer to different offerings. The Fireblocks platform provides MPC-based wallet and transaction infrastructure that institutions may operate under their own control. Fireblocks Trust Company, LLC is the separately chartered entity that provides regulated custody services. A buyer should therefore avoid applying the regulatory status of the trust company to every Fireblocks product or affiliate.
| Area | Fireblocks platform | Fireblocks Trust Company, LLC |
|---|---|---|
| Primary role | Wallet, policy, transfer and digital asset operations infrastructure | Regulated custody entity for eligible institutional services |
| Control model | Can support client-controlled self-custody or infrastructure used within another custodian's model | Safekeeping under the trust company's custody agreement and service perimeter |
| Regulatory statement | Technology use alone does not make the platform user or Fireblocks software a qualified custodian | NYDFS lists the entity as holding a limited-purpose trust charter granted in August 2024 |
| Buyer check | Confirm deployment, key-share control, policies, integrations and responsibilities | Confirm eligible assets, account structure, agreement, jurisdiction and applicable qualified-custodian analysis |
Regulatory status and Fireblocks Trust Company
The New York State Department of Financial Services lists Fireblocks Trust Company, LLC as a regulated entity with a limited-purpose trust charter dated August 2024. Fireblocks describes this entity as its qualified custody offering. Whether a service satisfies an institution's legal definition of “qualified custodian” depends on the exact entity, client type, asset, agreement and applicable law; legal and compliance teams should confirm that conclusion for the mandate.
Custody models and security architecture
Fireblocks documents hot, warm and cold MPC-CMP wallet configurations. The location of the signing key share and the approval workflow differ by configuration. Its policy engine can enforce transaction rules and separation of duties, while API Co-signers can automate approved workflows. Buyers should validate key-share ownership, recovery, privileged access, policy changes, audit evidence and incident procedures for their selected deployment.
APIs, integrations and settlement
Fireblocks exposes APIs for vault and wallet administration, policy-controlled transactions and operational automation. The Fireblocks Network supports transfers between connected counterparties and can authenticate destination addresses. Institutions should test API permissions, rate limits, approval fallbacks, reconciliation, address controls, travel-rule or screening dependencies, and whether settlement is on-chain, off-chain or dependent on a connected venue.
Institutional use cases and buyer fit
Relevant use cases include bank and fintech wallet operations, treasury movements, exchange connectivity, tokenization, payments, prime brokerage workflows and regulated custody through Fireblocks Trust. Fit depends on whether the institution needs software infrastructure, direct control of keys, a sub-custody technology layer or a regulated custodian. Asset managers, funds and RIAs should separately verify segregation, reporting, eligible assets and the legal custody entity.
What institutions should verify
- The legal entity named in the contract and the precise regulatory perimeter.
- Whether the proposed service is platform infrastructure, self-custody, sub-custody or custody by Fireblocks Trust.
- Key-share control, wallet configuration, policy governance, recovery and disaster-resilience procedures.
- Asset and network support for the actual mandate, including staking or smart-contract permissions where relevant.
- Settlement design, counterparty dependencies, API controls, reporting and reconciliation.
- Insurance scope, exclusions, audit reports and security certifications applicable to the contracted service.
Frequently asked questions
Is Fireblocks a qualified custodian?
Fireblocks Trust Company, LLC is the Fireblocks entity that offers qualified custody and holds a New York limited-purpose trust charter. The broader Fireblocks technology platform should not automatically be described as a qualified custodian.
What is Fireblocks Trust Company?
Fireblocks Trust Company, LLC is a separate regulated custody entity within the Fireblocks offering. NYDFS lists its limited-purpose trust charter as granted in August 2024.
Is the Fireblocks platform the same as Fireblocks Trust?
No. The platform supplies wallet, policy and transaction infrastructure; Fireblocks Trust is the chartered entity providing regulated custody services. The contract and service scope determine which model applies.
Which custody models does Fireblocks support?
Fireblocks documents hot, warm and cold MPC-CMP wallet configurations and can support self-custody, direct-custody and infrastructure used within another custodian's operating model.
How does Fireblocks secure transactions?
Its documented architecture combines distributed MPC-CMP key shares, policy-based approvals, isolated execution environments and configurable signing workflows. Institutions still need to assess their selected deployment and governance.
Does Fireblocks support APIs and settlement workflows?
Yes. Fireblocks documents APIs for wallet and transaction operations and network features for connected-counterparty transfers. Buyers should test permissions, reconciliation, fallback controls and the exact settlement path.
Primary sources
- New York State Department of Financial Services — regulated virtual currency entities
- Fireblocks — Fireblocks Trust Company and qualified custody
- Fireblocks developer documentation — wallet, policy, API and settlement capabilities
- Fireblocks developer documentation — API Co-signer architecture
- Fireblocks Security & Trust Center — audit and certification materials
Last reviewed 9 August 2026. Regulatory status and product scope can change. Confirm the contracting entity and current permissions directly with the provider and regulator. This profile is independent research, not legal or investment advice.
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