Goldman to offer cryptocurrency for wealth management clients

Goldman Sachs plans to offer investments in bitcoin and other digital assets to its wealth management clients from the second quarter, the latest top-tier company to move into the cryptocurrency space.

Firms including Tesla, BNY Mellon and Square have recently announced they are betting on bitcoin, as the wider adoption of the cryptocurrency for settling transactions and investments gathers pace.

The move by Goldman, reported by CNBC earlier Wednesday, comes days after a report that rival Morgan Stanley had started offering clients investments to the emerging asset class.

CNBC reported that Goldman would ultimately offer investments in bitcoin and digital assets that would include the physical bitcoin, derivatives or traditional investment vehicles.

A spokesperson for the bank confirmed the details of the report, which cited an interview with Mary Rich, the global head of digital assets for Goldman’s private wealth management division.

Reuters reported earlier this month that Goldman had restarted its cryptocurrency trading desk and that it was also exploring possibilities for a bitcoin exchange-traded fund.

The rising interest in the cryptocurrency comes after Tesla revealed in February that it had bought $1.5 billion of bitcoin, helping drive the cryptocurrency to record highs and breach $1 trillion in market capitalization for the first time.

The digital currency, however, remains highly volatile.