Company Performance Metrics
- Simon Peters: Managing Director
The DECUS Network middleware enables banks and assets managers (clients) to integrate our network of crypto custody providers via a single unified API. By moving between the client and the crypto custody provider, we address multiple layers of pain.
It is essential to note that DECUS never handles the private keys of the clients. The private keys
of the client remain at the custodian. The private keys to access the wallets of the custodian are placed in a client module to which only the client has access. A client triggers a transaction via the DECUS interfaces. After a transaction is triggered, an unsigned call is sent from the DECUS backend to the client module. The client can now authorise this transaction with the private keys stored in the module. If a transaction is successfully authorised, the call is signed and sent back to the DECUS backend forwarded to the custodian. The custodian executes the transaction.
There are three crucial reasons why a client should use several crypto custody providers.
First, every system is hackable, regardless of its security standards. This implied cost of cyber vulnerability can only be addressed by spreading funds across systems. Also, a provider might run into issues independent from external forces. Such provider failure can cause downtimes resulting in the clients' inability to access funds.
Additionally, a client might experience a "lock-in syndrome". A lock-in occurs if a client has integrated a single provider, but the provider fails to meet the expectations or the needs of the client change. However, due to switching costs or contractual agreements, a provider switch is difficult.
Furthermore, due to different technologies in crypto custody, different providers come with different advantages and disadvantages. Consider the trade-off between hot and cold storage. The first offers high speed while the last offers higher security but at the cost of considerably higher latency.
Considering these different layers of pain, DECUS Networks is helping clients to fix all these pains with a single tool. Instead of integrating one custodian, a client integrates the DECUS Network of custodians. The client is empowered to spread his assets across several custodians, reducing the client's critical system failure risk significantly. Also, the client may choose a selection of custodians offering features tailored to the individual trading strategy.
