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iTrustCapital vs. Unchained: Two bitcoin IRAs — custodial keys vs. client-held keys.

Last reviewed Common questionsMethodology

About iTrustCapital

IRA

iTrustCapital is a US retirement-account platform founded in 2018 that supports 90+ cryptocurrencies plus physical gold and silver inside a tax-advantaged IRA. Its custody arrangement uses Coinbase Custody and Fireblocks as institutional storage providers. It is known for its low fee structure (no monthly account fees) and its in-kind distribution capability, which lets holders aged 59.5+ withdraw actual bitcoin to a personal wallet. iTrustCapital is fully custodial: the client does not hold any private keys inside the IRA.

Who each is for

iTrustCapital is for

Retirement holders who want a low-fee path to bitcoin (and altcoins or metals if desired) in an IRA, with the option to take in-kind distribution of actual bitcoin at retirement age.

Unchained is for

Retirement holders who want a bitcoin-only IRA where they hold 2-of-3 multisig keys from day one rather than waiting until retirement to take custody.

iTrustCapital
Unchained
Trading fee
Not applicable
1.00% standard tier. 0.75% Signature tier.
Minimum purchase
Not applicable
$2,000
Recurring / DCA
Not applicable
Not offered
OTC / large trades
Not applicable
Primary buy channel for all vault clients.
Settlement
Not applicable
Into your multisig vault.
Custody model
Not applicable
Collaborative multisig
Key distribution
Not applicable
Client holds 2 keys, Unchained holds 1 key.
Default structure
Not applicable
2-of-3
Other configurations
Not applicable
Quorums up to 15-of-16 are supported on the Signature tier. Connections allow sharing keys with trusted parties.
Recovery if a key is lost
Not applicable
Loss of 1 key is recoverable. The remaining 2 keys still meet the 2-of-3 threshold.
Hardware wallets
Not applicable
Ledger, Trezor, Coldcard, BitBox, Blockstream Jade
Annual cost
Not applicable
$250/year per vault
Default process
Not applicable
Executor locates 1 client key and contacts Unchained with the Inheritance Protocol documents.
Heir technical knowledge required
Not applicable
No bitcoin knowledge required. Executor follows written instructions.
Waiting period
Not applicable
None
Executable without company involvement
Not applicable
Yes. The client's 2 keys remain operable independently of Unchained.
Cost or included tier
Not applicable
Included with Signature. Protocol materials are also available separately.
Account types
Traditional, Roth, SEP, Solo 401(k)
Traditional, Roth, SEP
Key control
No. Coinbase Custody and Fireblocks hold all keys.
Client holds 2-of-3 keys in a dedicated IRA vault.
IRA custodian
Fortis Bank per third-party sources. Storage is via Coinbase Custody and Fireblocks.
Fortis Bank (Colorado-chartered, FDIC-supervised)
Account minimum
$1,000
No minimum balance. $2,000 minimum per trade.
Trading fee
1.0% per transaction
1.50% per trade
Annual fee
No annual fee. No monthly account fees.
$250/year per IRA vault
Lender of record
Not applicable
Unchained (direct lender)
Eligible borrowers
Not applicable
Business entities only (LLC, corporation, single-member LLC)
Minimum loan
Not applicable
$150,000
Interest rate
Not applicable
12.0%
LTV at origination
Not applicable
50% at origination
Collateral custody during loan
Not applicable
Unchained and Fortis Bank each hold one key, which prevents any party from moving bitcoin unilaterally.
RIA
✕
✓
DAF
✕
✓
Trust entity
Not applicable
Gannett Trust Company, LLC
Jurisdiction / charter
Not applicable
Wyoming (chartered May 2025)
Services offered
Not applicable
Personal trust administration, corporate bitcoin treasury, qualified custody, dynasty trusts, and inheritance and estate planning.
Key control
Not applicable
Client-directed. Supports both collaborative custody and qualified custodian configurations.
Minimum assets
Not applicable
Not disclosed
Tier name
Not applicable
Signature
Annual cost
Not applicable
Personal: $6,000 first year, $4,500 renewal. Business: $7,500/year.
Dedicated contact
Not applicable
Dedicated relationship manager with same-day emergency support.
Included services
Not applicable
Vault setup, 2 premium hardware wallets, security reviews, ongoing education, and inheritance setup.
Founded
2018
2016
Client funds lent
Custodial. Client assets are pooled at Coinbase Custody and Fireblocks.
Not applicable. No client funds are held, and loans are not rehypothecated.
Proof of reserves
Not disclosed. Custody providers are separately attested.
Not applicable. The client holds their own keys, verifiable on-chain.
SOC certifications
Coinbase Custody and Fireblocks are separately certified.
SOC 1 Type II and SOC 2 Type II
US availability
48 states. Not available in New York or Hawaii.
Most states (varies by product)
International availability
No
No

Common questions

In-kind distribution means receiving the actual bitcoin when you take a qualified distribution from your IRA at age 59.5+, rather than liquidating to cash. iTrustCapital supports it, and so does Unchained's IRA. The structural difference is timing: at iTrustCapital, the client first gains direct custody at distribution; at Unchained, the client holds 2 of 3 multisig keys throughout the life of the account, with the in-kind distribution simply withdrawing funds from the IRA multisig to a personal Unchained multisig vault or other wallet of choice.
In-kind transfer. Because iTrustCapital supports in-kind distribution of bitcoin, you can transfer the actual bitcoin (rather than cash) into a new Unchained Bitcoin IRA without a taxable event. Unchained's IRA accepts trustee-to-trustee transfers and rollovers from 401(k), 403(b), 403(a), 457, TSP, and other IRAs. Bitcoin moves on-chain into the new multisig IRA vault where the client holds 2 of 3 keys.
iTrustCapital charges 1.0% per transaction and no monthly or annual fees. Unchained charges 1.5% per IRA trade and $250/year per account. For low-volume IRA accounts, iTrustCapital's fee structure is materially cheaper. For accounts that don't trade often, the $250/year flat fee at Unchained is still small relative to typical IRA balances; the differentiator is key control, not fees alone.
State-specific regulatory regimes for crypto custody. New York's BitLicense and Hawaii's historical money-transmitter framework have created exclusions for several crypto custody products. Unchained's IRA is available in all 50 states because Fortis Bank, the IRS-required custodian of record, operates under a Colorado state charter that has been accepted in all state contexts for the IRA structure.

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About this guide

These comparisons are maintained by Unchained. We have tried to represent every service accurately and fairly, and where another service does something well that Unchained does not, we say so. Unchained appears as the reference point throughout because every page is built around a single question: how does this service differ from Unchained? That framing is why Unchained is more prominently featured, not because we consider it the default right answer for every reader.

Disclaimer: Unchained's product and service availability may vary by state. Nothing on this page is investment, tax, legal, or financial advice. Investment advisory services are offered only through Gannett Wealth Advisors. Consult your own advisors before making any financial decision. All financial products involve risk, including loss of principal. Bitcoin is volatile, and past performance does not guarantee future results.

This comparison is provided for informational purposes only and is current as of May 2026. Information about other companies is compiled from publicly available sources, including each company's documentation, regulatory filings, terms of service, and third-party reviews. Offerings, fees, terms, and state availability change frequently and may have changed since publication. Verify all information directly with each company before transacting.

References to other companies are for comparison purposes only and do not imply endorsement, partnership, sponsorship, or affiliation. All third-party names and marks are the property of their respective owners and are used for identification only. Reviewed quarterly; corrections will be addressed within five business days. If you represent a company listed here and/or believe information is inaccurate, fill out a feedback form.

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