Casa CEO Discusses Bitcoin Self-Custody Amid Rising Physical Attacks and ETF Adoption

Bitcoin self-custody faces competing pressures in 2026 as spot ETFs provide convenient exposure while physical attacks on crypto users have surged to unprecedented levels, according to Casa CEO Nick Neuman in a recent interview.

Casa's chief security officer Jameson Lopp documented approximately 65-70 physical coercion incidents in 2025, the highest on record with at least four fatalities. France reported at least 10 attacks, potentially linked to tax reporting exposing user identities, including a convicted tax official who sold taxpayer data to criminals.

Neuman challenged the notion that third-party custody solves security concerns, citing a case where a Casa client was drugged and coerced at a bar. The client's multisig wallet remained secure due to distributed keys, while a Coinbase balance accessible on their phone was drained.

Casa, founded in 2018, targets users securing significant Bitcoin amounts through multisig solutions requiring multiple keys for transactions. The platform includes emergency lockdown features and pseudonymous support, with recovery key authentication requiring video verification and duress procedures.

Institutional adoption is growing, with Casa increasingly serving family offices, corporations, and custody banks seeking provable control. This trend follows regulatory changes including the SEC's January 2025 rescission of SAB 121, which removed capital penalties for crypto custody at banks.

Neuman noted that Casa also serves clients using Bitcoin as a geopolitical hedge, distributing keys internationally to protect assets from potential domestic confiscation.