Global banking giants are reportedly increasing their involvement in the emerging crypto and blockchain firms by way of early- and late-stage funding for projects and businesses in the industry.

According to inquiry by Blockdata, a blockchain market intelligence outfit, 55 out of the top 100 banks by assets under management (AUM) accept some grade of exposure to the novel technology. This involvement reportedly cuts across direct and indirect investments in crypto and decentralized ledger technology firms by the banks themselves or via their subsidiaries.

Blockdata'southward research places Barclays, Citigroup and Goldman Sachs among the most agile backers of crypto and blockchain firms, with JPMorgan and BNP Paribas besides identified as serial investors in the emerging space.

These investments are role of a larger trend of significant backing for blockchain startups, with funding figures already doubling the amount recorded in 2022, co-ordinate to a KPMG report.

The research too shows crypto custody as a major focus indicate for banks delving into the crypto space. Indeed, almost a quarter of the top 100 banks by AUM are either developing crypto custody solutions or are backing startups that offering custodial services for digital assets.

Every bit previously reported past Cointelegraph, several banks in the United states of america, Asia and Europe are building crypto custody platforms as role of their preliminary foray into cryptocurrencies.

Related: Cryptocurrency custody gives commercial banks a foothold in the marketplace

Blockdata attributed the growing crypto and blockchain involvement amid banks to three principal factors — skyrocketing profits of cryptocurrency startups, regulatory advancements, and the increasing demand among bank customers for exposure to digital assets.

Back in May, NYDIG president Yan Zhao stated that the massive revenues of crypto trading giants such as Coinbase were making banks reexamine their initial reticence toward cryptocurrency involvement.

This massive revenue potential is despite the significantly smaller teams working for these major crypto companies.

At $58.09 billion as of the time of writing, Coinbase sits on a valuation almost one-half that of Goldman Sachs, the 13th largest bank in the world, despite employing only about iv% of the latter's workforce.