GK8 by Galaxy
GK8 by Galaxy provides institutional digital asset custody built on patented air-gapped (Impenetrable Vault) and unlimited-MPC (uMPC) technology, serving banks, custodians, exchanges, and crypto-native firms via direct enterprise sales as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Galaxy Digital (Nasdaq: GLXY).
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersTel Aviv, Israel
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What GK8 by Galaxy does
GK8 by Galaxy provides institutional-grade digital asset custody infrastructure to banks, exchanges, custodians, hedge funds, and crypto-native companies. Founded in 2018 in Israel by Lior Lamesh and Shahar Shamai — both veterans of national-asset cybersecurity — GK8 was acquired by Galaxy Digital Holdings (Nasdaq: GLXY) from Celsius Network in February 2023 for $44 million and now operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary.
The platform rests on two patented core technologies: the Impenetrable Vault, which uses a one-way communication architecture with zero digital input to keep custody entirely offline and air-gapped from cyberattack surfaces, and uMPC (Unlimited MPC), a multi-party computation implementation that supports an unlimited number of co-signers with high transaction throughput. A Tokenization Wizard allows institutions to convert real-world assets (real estate, fine art, equities, securities) into digital tokens without coding. The stack integrates with MetaMask Institutional, WalletConnect, and major DeFi protocols (AAVE, UniSwap, 1inch, Ondo Finance, Lido stETH), and offers up to $1B in insurance coverage per vault client via a partnership with USI Insurance Services.
Commercially, GK8 sells exclusively through a direct enterprise field-sales motion targeting financial institutions globally, with quote-based annual subscriptions. The company is headquartered in Ramat Gan (Tel Aviv District) with a sales presence in Hong Kong and named institutional customers including BDACS (Korea), AllUnity (DWS/Flow Traders/Galaxy Euro stablecoin JV), and CaixaBank (innovation program). Certifications include SOC 2 Type 2 (E&Y validated), GDPR, CCPA, and optional FIPS 140-2 Level 3/4 iHSM hardware.
GK8 by Galaxy firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- GK8 by Galaxy
- Legal name
- GK8 LLC and GDS Crypto Technologies Israel, Ltd.
- Website
- https://gk8.io
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- GK8 by Galaxy provides institutional digital asset custody built on patented air-gapped (Impenetrable Vault) and unlimited-MPC (uMPC) technology, serving banks, custodians, exchanges, and crypto-native firms via direct enterprise sales as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Galaxy Digital (Nasdaq: GLXY).
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
GK8 by Galaxy industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Digital Asset Custody
- SIC
- Finance Services (6199)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Digital Asset Custody & Key Management (MPC, HSM, Wallet Infra) (FSAGAMAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Custody Technology Platforms (Custody-as-a-Service) (FSADACAB), Digital Asset Custody (Institutional Crypto Custody) (FSAFAHAH), MPC / HSM / Key Management Infrastructure (FSADACAC)
Keywords
Where GK8 by Galaxy is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tel Aviv
- HQ country
- Israel
- HQ region
- Middle East
Offices2 records
Markets served
GK8 by Galaxy business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Digital Asset Custody Platform: Subscription/licensing model for institutional-grade digital asset custody infrastructure. Includes Impenetrable Vault and uMPC solutions with features like tokenization, staking, DeFi access, and trading support.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Enterprise custody solutions with insurance coverage tiers |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels7 records
GK8 by Galaxy product offering
Product offeringCore offering
GK8 by Galaxy provides institutional-grade self-custody technology for digital assets. Its platform combines an Impenetrable Vault (patented air-gapped cold storage with one-way communication and zero digital input) with Unlimited MPC (uMPC) for hot-wallet-grade transaction signing, plus a Tokenization Wizard that lets institutions convert real-world assets into digital tokens. The offering targets banks, exchanges, hedge funds, and crypto-native firms needing theft-proof custody, regulatory compliance, and DeFi/staking access.
Product overview
GK8 by Galaxy provides an end-to-end platform for digital asset self-custody and operations. The portfolio consists of three core products: Impenetrable Vault (theft-proof custody using patented one-way communication with zero digital input), uMPC (Unlimited MPC offering unlimited co-signers with high-speed transaction processing), and Tokenization Wizard (enabling any asset to be transformed into a secure digital token within minutes). These products serve two solution paths: TradFi (for traditional financial institutions requiring bank-grade custody) and Crypto Native (for crypto-native companies needing self-managed, on-chain solutions). The platform integrates with MetaMask Institutional and WalletConnect for secure DeFi access and supports connections to protocols including AAVE, UniSwap, 1inch, Ondo Finance, and SparkFi.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Impenetrable Vault Custody technology that uses patented one-way communication with zero digital input, never connecting to the internet. Enables financial institutions to offer digital assets that are 100% theft-proof. Supports insurance coverage up to $1B per client.
- uMPC (Unlimited MPC) Patented MPC-based end-to-end custody solution enabling an unlimited number of co-signers, high-speed transaction processing, and flexible key shard distribution (cloud, on-premise, HSM, or hybrid). Insurance coverage up to $125M per MPC instance.
- Tokenization Wizard No-code platform that enables institutions to tokenize real-world assets—including real estate, fine art, intellectual property, and equities—into secure digital tokens within minutes. Supports minting, distribution, burning, and allowlist/blocklist management.
Quantifiable outcome
- 100% theft-proof digital asset custody through zero internet connectivity
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use GK8 by Galaxy
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
GK8 by Galaxy technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration7 records
Feature6 records
GK8 by Galaxy partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- USI Insurance ServicescorePartnership with USI Insurance Services, a leading insurance brokerage and consulting firm, enables GK8 clients to access up to $1 billion of dedicated insurance coverage per vault client - the highest insurance limit in the digital asset custody market. USI is one of the largest insurance brokerage and consulting firms in the world with approximately 200 offices serving large risk management clients, middle market companies, and individuals.
- BDACScoreBDACS, Korea's leading regulated institutional custodian, standardized its entire institutional platform on GK8's Impenetrable Vault, uMPC, and policy-driven orchestration technology. GK8 serves as BDACS's custody technology provider, enabling BDACS to offer theft-proof digital asset custody to Korean financial institutions.
- ConsenSys / MetaMask InstitutionalmajorIntegration with MetaMask Institutional (built by ConsenSys) enables GK8 users to access the institutional rendition of the popular on-chain wallet from their MPC vault. This integration provides broad access to decentralized finance (DeFi) services while maintaining institutional-grade security and compliance features.
- WalletConnectmajorGK8 integrated WalletConnect directly into its uMPC framework, creating a secure communication channel between institutional custody systems and DeFi protocols. GK8 clients can now use the GK8 uMPC mobile app to connect to apps such as AAVE, Solana DeFi, 1inch, UniSwap, Ondo Finance, and SparkFi.
- CaixaBankminorGK8 was selected from more than 200 companies and 28 countries by CaixaBank as part of its Innovation Program. CaixaBank is the leading financial group in Spain and one of the largest in the eurozone, representing an innovation partnership with a major European financial institution.
- Lido FinancemajorGK8 launched custody support for Lido's stETH (liquid staking tokens), expanding institutional access to liquid staking. This integration enables GK8 clients to securely custody stETH assets while participating in Ethereum's proof-of-stake ecosystem.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
GK8 by Galaxy competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Fireblocks: Largest institutional digital asset custody and transfer platform using MPC, directly competing with GK8's uMPC across banks, exchanges, and hedge funds.
- Anchorage Digital: Federally chartered US crypto custodian offering institutional custody, staking, and trading – overlapping with GK8's TradFi and crypto-native solution paths.
- BitGo: Long-standing institutional digital asset custodian with cold storage and MPC offerings, serving the same exchanges, hedge funds, and fintech custody customers as GK8.
- Hex Trust: Asia-headquartered regulated institutional digital asset custodian offering custody, staking, and DeFi access with proprietary infrastructure – direct competitor in APAC.
- Cobo: Institutional digital asset custody and wallet infrastructure provider with MPC and smart contract custody, serving exchanges, funds, and Web3 companies overlapping with GK8.
- Gemini Custody: Regulated US-based custodian (NYDFS Trust) offering institutional-grade cold and warm storage, competing for the same regulated-custodian RFPs as GK8.
- Zodia Custody: Standard Chartered-backed institutional crypto custodian targeting banks and asset managers in Europe and the Middle East – directly comparable TradFi positioning to GK8.
Broad incumbents
- Coinbase Custody (Coinbase Institutional): Custody arm of Coinbase, the largest US crypto exchange; competes for institutional mandates while benefitting from broader exchange, brokerage, and prime brokerage services.
- Metaco (acquired by Ripple): Provider of institutional digital asset custody and tokenization orchestration software to banks, now part of Ripple; competes with GK8's TradFi custody and tokenization stack.
Emerging players
- Ledger Enterprise: Enterprise offering from hardware wallet leader Ledger, extending into institutional self-custody with HSM-based solutions – an emerging MPC/Hybrid custody competitor.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
GK8 by Galaxy social profiles
Digital presenceGK8 by Galaxy compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
GK8 by Galaxy financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
GK8 by Galaxy leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
GK8 by Galaxy funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
GK8 by Galaxy M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about GK8 by Galaxy
What does GK8 by Galaxy do?
GK8 by Galaxy provides institutional-grade self-custody technology for digital assets. Its platform combines an Impenetrable Vault (patented air-gapped cold storage with one-way communication and zero digital input) with Unlimited MPC (uMPC) for hot-wallet-grade transaction signing, plus a Tokenization Wizard that lets institutions convert real-world assets into digital tokens. The offering targets banks, exchanges, hedge funds, and crypto-native firms needing theft-proof custody, regulatory compliance, and DeFi/staking access.
Is GK8 by Galaxy a public or private company?
GK8 by Galaxy is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was GK8 by Galaxy founded?
GK8 by Galaxy was founded in 2018. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is GK8 by Galaxy based?
GK8 by Galaxy is headquartered in Tel Aviv, Israel, in the Middle East region.
How does GK8 by Galaxy make money?
One revenue line is on record: digital Asset Custody Platform.
Who are GK8 by Galaxy's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Fireblocks, Anchorage Digital, BitGo, Hex Trust, Cobo, Gemini Custody and Zodia Custody. Broad incumbents are Coinbase Custody (Coinbase Institutional) and Metaco (acquired by Ripple). Ledger Enterprise is listed as an emerging player.
Does GK8 by Galaxy have an API?
Yes. GK8 offers API access for its digital asset custody platform. The Help Center provides product guides and setup information for the GK8 API (accessible at docs.gk8.io). Developer documentation is at docs.gk8.io.
What industry is GK8 by Galaxy in?
GK8 by Galaxy's product category is Digital Asset Custody. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAGAMAB, Digital Asset Custody & Key Management (MPC, HSM, Wallet Infra), with a secondary code of FSADACAB, Custody Technology Platforms (Custody-as-a-Service). Its SIC code is 6199.