Unchained
Collaborative custody platform where you hold the majority of keys while getting institutional-grade backup, loans, and trading
Why We Recommend Unchained
Unchained operates as a U.S.-regulated bitcoin financial services company founded in 2016 and based in Austin, Texas. The platform has secured billions of dollars in bitcoin and originated over $500 million in bitcoin-backed loans, establishing a multi-year track record in the industry. Their collaborative custody model uses standard bitcoin multisignature technology where clients typically hold 2 of 3 keys, meaning Unchained cannot unilaterally move funds—a verifiable security property that eliminates the counterparty risk that led to failures at centralized exchanges.
The security architecture allows clients to independently verify their holdings using external wallet software and open-source tools, avoiding the opaque off-chain accounting that has plagued custodial services. For those wanting additional institutional backing, Unchained offers multi-institution custody arrangements where keys are distributed among the client, Unchained, and independent third-party key agents like Bakkt. This design prevents any single entity from accessing funds while maintaining professional recovery options if a client loses access to their keys.
Best For
Unchained serves bitcoin holders who want stronger security than a single hardware wallet but aren't ready to trust a traditional custodian with full control. The collaborative custody model particularly suits individuals and families with significant holdings who need inheritance planning, professional backup, and the confidence that comes from institutional support—without surrendering their keys. If you've accumulated enough bitcoin that losing it would be devastating but find pure self-custody intimidating, this fills that gap.
High-net-worth individuals, family offices, and corporations holding bitcoin on their balance sheets benefit from Unchained Signature's private-client services, which include large trade execution, substantial bitcoin-backed loans, and dedicated advisory support. Businesses get multi-user access with role-based permissions and audit-friendly custody that satisfies both internal controls and external verification requirements.
The platform also appeals to long-term holders who want tax-advantaged structures like bitcoin IRAs while maintaining multisig security, and those seeking USD liquidity without selling their bitcoin. If you need a $50,000+ loan collateralized by bitcoin you still partially control, or want to buy bitcoin that settles directly to cold storage rather than sitting on an exchange, Unchained provides those capabilities within a bitcoin-only framework.
Services & Features
- 2-of-3 collaborative custody vaults
- Direct-to-vault bitcoin trading ($5,000 minimum)
- Bitcoin-backed USD loans
- Bitcoin IRA accounts
- Inheritance planning services
- Multi-institution key distribution
- Business accounts with role permissions
- Unchained Signature private wealth tier
- Concierge onboarding support
Considerations
Services are limited to specific U.S. states (currently 29 for trading), with trading minimums starting at $5,000 that make small DCA purchases impractical. Users must set up and manage hardware wallets with seed phrase backups to fully utilize collaborative custody, requiring more technical involvement than purely custodial solutions.
