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Casa vs Onramp: Which Bitcoin Custody Model Is Right for You?
Jackson Mikalic | Head of Business Development
Sep 13, 2025
Casa vs Onramp: Which Bitcoin Custody Model Is Right for You?
Key Takeaways
- Casa is a self-custody software platform. The client retains direct
possession of their keys at all times. Casa provides the tooling, structure, and support to make multisignature self-custody more manageable and more secure.
- Onramp uses multi-institution custody (MIC). Three independent
institutions each hold one key in a 2-of-3 multisignature structure. The client holds no keys and bears no key management burden.
- This is a fundamental philosophical difference: Casa is built on the
premise that the holder should control their keys directly. Onramp is built on the premise that distributing keys across multiple independent institutions removes reliance on any single party, including the holder themselves.
- Both are legitimate answers to the Bitcoin custody question. Which
one is right depends on how you weigh sovereignty, operational burden, inheritance simplicity, and financial services depth.
- Casa is purpose-built for custody and key security. Onramp combines
custody with a broader suite of Bitcoin financial services. The two products reflect different scopes, not just different approaches to holding keys.
Casa and Unchained are both collaborative custody platforms. In both models, the client holds the majority of keys and the platform holds one key as an emergency backup. Casa's Standard plan uses a 2-of-3 structure, the same as Unchained's core offering, while Casa's Premium plan upgrades to a 3-of-5 structure for additional redundancy. The meaningful distinction is not between Casa and Unchained on custody philosophy. It is between collaborative custody as a category and Onramp's multi-institution custody, where independent institutions hold all keys and the client holds none.
Onramp sits at the other end of the spectrum. In a multi-institution custody model, three independent institutions hold the keys, no single one of which can act alone. The client holds no keys directly. The institutional layer provides the security architecture, and the client's experience is a financial relationship rather than a key management exercise.
Understanding these two models clearly is the most useful thing this article can do. Neither is universally better. They answer different questions and serve different holders.
Nothing here is financial or legal advice. Product details reflect publicly available information as of early 2026 and may change. Verify current terms directly with each provider.
What Casa Is: Self-Custody with Professional Structure
Casa launched in 2018 with a clear thesis: most Bitcoin holders want to self-custody but struggle with the operational complexity of doing it safely. Casa's answer is a software platform and advisory service that makes multisignature self-custody more manageable without removing the holder from the key structure.
Casa's Standard plan (\$250/year) provides a 2-of-3 multisignature vault where the client holds two keys across separate hardware devices and Casa holds one key as an emergency backup. Casa can never spend funds unilaterally. Their key is a recovery mechanism, not a control mechanism. The 2-of-3 structure means losing one key does not mean losing your Bitcoin.
Casa's Premium plan (\$2,100/year) upgrades to a 3-of-5 vault, meaning five total keys are distributed across the client's devices and Casa's recovery key, with three required to sign any transaction. The plan provides hardware devices, video-verified support for sensitive account actions, and family co-management for shared custody and inheritance planning. A Private Client tier offers bespoke advisory services and custom pricing for high-value holders with complex needs, including advanced inheritance planning with enhanced verification.
Inheritance is included on all Casa plans. The process works through inactivity detection rather than a formal death certificate. A designated recipient initiates a request in the Casa app. Casa sends notifications to the original account holder to confirm inactivity. After a six-month verification period, the vault transfers to the recipient. Standard inheritance requires no invasive KYC or legal documentation. The Private Client tier offers an enhanced verification flow using government IDs at setup and a death certificate at transfer, which removes the waiting period.
Casa supports Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDC, and USDT within their vaults. They are not a Bitcoin-only platform. Their buy and sell functionality is provided through Zero Hash, a licensed money transmitter, integrated within the Casa app.
Casa is purpose-built for custody and key security. It does not offer cash-bearing accounts, an IRA, a debit card, or Bitcoin-backed loans. It is a security platform, and a well-regarded one.
What Onramp Is: Multi-Institution Custody and a Bitcoin Financial Platform
Onramp was built on a different premise. Rather than helping holders manage their own keys more effectively, Onramp distributes custody across three independent institutions in a structure where no single one can act alone. The client holds no keys directly. The security comes from the architecture of the arrangement rather than individual control.
Multi-Institution Custody
Onramp's 2-of-3 multisignature structure distributes keys across Onramp, BitGo, and CoinCover. Any transaction requires two of three institutions to sign. If any one institution experiences a breach, failure, or internal bad actor, your Bitcoin is not at risk. The structure is backed by insurance coverage up to \$100 million per incident through Lloyd's of London.
The meaningful distinction from Casa's model is not that one is multisignature and the other is not. Both use multisig. The distinction is who holds the keys. In Casa's model, the client holds the majority of keys. In Onramp's model, independent institutions hold all keys. The security question each holder has to answer is: which arrangement better fits my situation, my technical capability, my operational discipline, and my tolerance for key management complexity? There is no universal answer.
A Bitcoin Financial Platform
Beyond custody, Onramp offers a suite of Bitcoin financial services that Casa does not: a cash account earning Onramp-funded rewards, Bitcoin brokerage in all 50 states and internationally, Bitcoin IRAs with MIC architecture, a Visa debit card with cash back that can be deployed into Bitcoin, Bitcoin-backed loans with no rehypothecation, the Onramp Terminal research suite, and estate and inheritance planning including trust and dynasty structures.
Casa is purpose-built for custody and key security. Onramp is built for holders who want custody alongside a broader financial relationship. These are different products serving different needs, not a better and worse version of the same thing.
The Philosophical Difference
Casa's CEO Nick Neuman has articulated the self-custody thesis clearly: for holders who view Bitcoin as a hedge against systemic risk in the legacy financial system, custody solutions that rely on institutional relationships can feel philosophically misaligned. If the thesis is sovereignty, then the answer should be sovereignty-preserving.
This is a coherent position, and Casa has built their product around it honestly. The client retains direct possession of their keys. Casa provides the tools and the support. The holder is the ultimate owner in every meaningful sense.
Onramp's model reflects a different position: that distributing keys across multiple independent parties creates a different kind of security than individual key control, and that removing the key management burden from the client allows the institutional layer to handle complexity that individual holders may find difficult to sustain over decades. The client does not hold keys, but no single institution does either.
Neither position is wrong. They reflect different answers to the question of what security means in the context of long-term Bitcoin holding. Holders who prioritize direct sovereignty will favor Casa. Holders who prioritize institutional distribution and operational simplicity will favor Onramp.
Inheritance: Two Different Approaches
Both Casa and Onramp take inheritance seriously. Their approaches reflect their underlying philosophies.
Casa's inheritance process is built around the self-custody model. Because the client holds the keys, transferring those keys to a recipient requires a structured process that does not require the client to reveal keys during their lifetime. The inactivity-based detection approach allows a recipient to initiate the process, after which Casa sends notifications to confirm the holder is truly inactive before proceeding. No death certificate is required for standard inheritance. The waiting period is the verification mechanism.
The genuine advantage of this approach is privacy. Standard Casa inheritance requires no KYC, no legal documentation, and minimal bureaucracy. For holders who value privacy in the transfer process, this is meaningful. Casa's Private Client tier goes further with bespoke inheritance planning for holders with complex estate situations.
The tradeoff is that the heir takes on a self-custody relationship after transfer, which requires some level of technical comfort or willingness to learn. Casa's advisors provide guidance through the process.
Onramp's inheritance process requires a death certificate and formal identification. The Onramp team guides heirs through the transfer. The MIC architecture operates in the background. The heir does not need to manage keys or understand the technical structure of the vault. For families where heirs prefer a guided institutional process over a technical self-custody handoff, this is a natural fit.
For holders with complex estate situations, Onramp also supports trust structures, dynasty planning, and multi-generational wealth transfer as part of the broader custody relationship.
Honest Tradeoffs
Where Casa has a genuine advantage
- Key sovereignty: The client retains direct possession of the
majority of keys at all times. For holders whose primary value is self-sovereignty, this is the defining feature.
- Privacy: Standard Casa inheritance requires no KYC or legal
documentation. The platform stores extended public keys for UX purposes but cannot spend funds. For holders with strong privacy preferences, this is meaningful.
- Lower entry cost: The Standard plan at \$250/year provides genuine
multisig security with inheritance included. This is accessible for holders who want structured self-custody without a full financial platform.
- Independence from institutional relationships: Casa's model does
not require trust in any institution to hold keys. The client retains possession of the keys. Casa provides tooling.
- Resilience if Casa closes: Because the client holds the majority of
keys, Bitcoin can be accessed independently using open source tools if Casa ceases to operate.
- Multi-asset support: Casa supports Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDC, and USDT
for holders with assets beyond Bitcoin.
Where Onramp has a genuine advantage
- No key management burden: The client holds no keys and bears no
responsibility for key security, storage, or recovery. The institutional layer handles all of this.
- Distributed custody architecture: Three independent institutions
with separate infrastructure, legal agreements, and operational teams each hold one key in a structure where no single party can act alone.
- Insurance: Up to \$100 million per incident through Lloyd's of
London.
- Inheritance simplicity: Death certificate plus guided institutional
handoff. The heir does not need to manage a self-custody vault. Suitable for families where beneficiaries prefer a simpler process.
- Complete financial platform: Cash-bearing accounts, IRA, brokerage,
debit card, Bitcoin-backed loans, and estate planning under one roof.
- IRA with MIC custody: Bitcoin IRAs backed by multi-institution
custody architecture.
- International availability: Onramp serves clients globally. Casa's
enhanced services are primarily US-focused.
Two Platforms, Same Audience, Different Purposes
Casa and Onramp both serve serious, long-term Bitcoin holders who have thought carefully about security. They share an audience and a commitment to Bitcoin as a long-term store of value. But they serve different purposes and reflect different philosophies about how that value should be secured.
Casa is likely the better fit for holders who want to maintain direct key control, who are technically comfortable with self-custody operations, who value privacy in the inheritance process, and who are looking for a focused custody tool rather than a broader financial platform.
Onramp is likely the better fit for holders who want institutional-grade security without the operational burden of key management, whose heirs would prefer a guided institutional process, who want a complete financial platform alongside their custody relationship, and who need services like an IRA, loans, or international coverage that Casa does not offer.
Some holders use both at different stages of their journey, with Casa as a self-custody tool during active accumulation and Onramp as the long-term platform for storage, financial planning, and estate infrastructure as holdings and complexity grow.
Who Each Platform Is Best For
Casa is likely the better fit if:
- Key sovereignty is your primary value and you want direct possession
of your keys at all times.
- You are technically comfortable managing multisignature hardware
wallets and are willing to maintain that competence over time.
- Your heirs are comfortable with a self-custody handoff or you have a
plan for guiding them through the process.
- Privacy in the inheritance process is a priority and you want to
avoid KYC requirements.
- You hold assets beyond Bitcoin that you want to secure in the same
structure.
- You want a focused custody and security tool without a broader
financial platform.
Onramp is likely the better fit if:
- You want institutional-grade security without the operational burden
of managing keys yourself.
- Your holdings have grown to the point where distributing custody
across multiple independent institutions is a priority.
- Your heirs would prefer a guided institutional handoff over managing
a self-custody vault.
- You want comprehensive estate and inheritance planning including
trust structures and multi-generational planning.
- You want Bitcoin in a tax-advantaged IRA without sacrificing custody
quality.
- You want a complete financial platform: cash-bearing accounts,
brokerage, debit card, and loans alongside your custody relationship.
- You are based outside the United States or have international
beneficiaries.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Casa hold my Bitcoin?
No. Casa is a non-custodial software platform. They hold one recovery key in a 2-of-3 or 5-key multisignature structure, but they cannot spend your Bitcoin without your keys. You always hold the majority of keys required to authorize a transaction. Casa explicitly states they do not hold, control, or transmit customer funds.
Does Onramp hold my Bitcoin?
Onramp holds one of three keys in the multi-institution custody structure. The other two are held by BitGo and CoinCover. No single institution, including Onramp, can move your Bitcoin unilaterally. Two of three institutions must sign any transaction. This is a different arrangement from a single custodian holding your Bitcoin.
What happens to my Bitcoin if Casa goes out of business?
Because you hold the majority of keys, you can access your Bitcoin independently using open source tools compatible with the multisignature standard Casa uses. Your Bitcoin is not dependent on Casa's continued operation, which is a genuine and meaningful advantage of the self-custody model.
What happens to my Bitcoin if Onramp goes out of business?
The multi-institution custody structure means your Bitcoin does not depend on Onramp alone. With BitGo and CoinCover holding the other keys, any two of the three institutions can coordinate to return Bitcoin to clients if one party ceases to operate. Onramp publishes documentation on this contingency. For a detailed answer, see the article: What Happens to My Bitcoin if Onramp Goes Away.
How does Casa's inheritance process work?
A designated recipient initiates a request through the Casa app. Casa sends notifications to the original account holder to verify inactivity. After a six-month verification period, the vault transfers to the recipient. Standard inheritance requires no KYC or legal documentation. The Private Client tier offers an enhanced verification option using government IDs and a death certificate that removes the waiting period.
How does Onramp's inheritance process work?
A designated beneficiary presents a death certificate and formal identification. The Onramp team guides the heir through the transfer process. The MIC architecture operates in the background. The heir does not need to manage keys or understand the technical structure of the vault. For holders with more complex estate situations, Onramp also supports trust structures and dynasty planning.
Does Casa offer an IRA?
No. Casa does not offer IRA accounts. Onramp offers Bitcoin IRAs backed by multi-institution custody architecture.
Does Casa offer Bitcoin-backed loans or cash-bearing accounts?
No. Casa is a custody and security platform focused on key management. It does not offer financial services products including loans, cash accounts, brokerage, or a debit card. Onramp Finance includes all of these alongside its custody relationship.
Further Reading
- Unchained vs Onramp: Which Bitcoin Custody Model Is Right for You?
- River vs Onramp: Which Bitcoin Platform Is Right for You?
- What Is Multi-Institution Bitcoin Custody?
- What Happens to My Bitcoin if Onramp Goes Away?
- What Happens to Your Bitcoin When You Die? A Complete Inheritance
Planning Guide
If you are evaluating whether Onramp is the right fit for where you are in your Bitcoin journey, our team is available to walk through your situation without any obligation. Book a consultation at onrampbitcoin.com/consult.
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