Bitcoin

Goldman Sachs Pivots From Bitcoin Trading Desk to Custody Service

Osato Avan-Nomayo · @OsatoNomayo | Sep 06, 2018 | 06:00

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Goldman Sachs has announced that it is shelving its proposed plan to open a Bitcoin trading desk due to the uncertainty of the industry’s regulatory landscape. Instead, the financial giant says it will focus its efforts towards developing robust solutions for cryptocurrency custody.

Bank Says Regulatory Uncertainty to Blame for Decision

According to Business Insider, Goldman Sachs has removed the creation of a Bitcoin trading desk from its list of priorities. Inside sources say the bank may revisit such plans, but in the immediate future, Goldman Sachs has its sight on other ventures.

The news comes after months of speculation over when the bank would take the plunge and begin operating its cryptocurrency trading desk. Earlier in the year, a senior bank executive announced that Goldman Sachs would soon start offering Bitcoin trading services. At the time, such a statement was a sharp contrast from the bank’s less favorable cryptocurrency rhetoric.

Inside sources who elected not to provide further details saying the bank had to abandon its plan due to regulatory issues. According to them, Goldman Sachs was keen to avoid the risks associated with trading volatile cryptocurrencies.

Focusing on Cryptocurrency Custodial Solutions

Despite shelving its proposed Bitcoin trading desk plan, the bank isn’t completely abandoning all of its interest in the industry. Instead, Goldman Sachs reportedly wishes to move forward with the roll-out of its cryptocurrency custodial service.

In May 2018, the bank became the first regulated financial institutions in the United States to offer Bitcoin futures trading. With the addition of custody services, the bank could potentially get ahead of the cryptocurrency curve as far as Wall Street is concerned.

Bitcoin Leads Cryptocurrency Market Pullback

Amidst the announcement from Goldman Sachs, the price of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies has experienced a significant decline. Moments after the news went public, the price of Bitcoin dropped more than $300 in ten minutes, while Ethereum plunged 12 percent.

This occurrence most likely is coincidental, especially given the events of Monday. Reports of large Bitcoin sums being moved by wallet were suspected of being connected to the defunct Silk Road dark web marketplace. It is also likely that the current price decline is due to mass profit taking at a price resistance level.

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Image courtesy of CoinMarketCap.com, Shutterstock