At Simpleblock.io, we build infrastructure that institutions rely on, from blockchain integrations to treasury and fintech workflows. As our platform evolved and our client base expanded, so did the scale and complexity of the assets we managed. What started as a secure, multi-signature treasury setup with multiple Trezor devices, independent signers, and geographically distributed approval layers quickly reached its limits. One of the most common questions we received from investors and institutional partners was: "How secure are your wallets?" Explaining that we had 10 Trezor devices distributed across locations with strict signing policies simply wasn't a scalable or confidence-inspiring answer. It worked technically, but it wasn't feasible or future-proof, not for an organization growing at our pace. We needed a more decentralized, automated, and verifiable security model; one that didn't depend on physical devices, manual coordination, or trust in specific individuals. That's when we began searching for an institutional-grade, future-ready solution, and that journey led us to Dfns. Before committing, we evaluated several leading custody solutions to ensure we built on the right foundation.
Why Fireblocks Wasn't the Right Fit
There's no denying that Fireblocks is a mature, enterprise-grade platform. However, their model simply didn't align with how we build and scale products. Fireblocks operates more like a tech service provider than a tech enabler. Their AUM-based pricing model feels outdated and misaligned with modern infrastructure logic. You don't pay AWS or GCP based on how much value your code creates; you pay based on the resources you consume. Custody shouldn't be any different. In our experience, Fireblocks' stack is somewhat closed and heavily abstracted, which makes it difficult for builders who want fine-grained control over wallet behavior, signing policies, and integrations. For Simpleblock.io, where automation, modularity, and transparency are core principles, Fireblocks felt too rigid and too much of a "black box." In short, Fireblocks is great for traditional institutions who want managed custody. We, however, wanted infrastructure, not a middleman.
Why Utila Didn't Match Our Standards
We took a close look at Utila, both technically and organizationally. On the surface, their platform looks modern, clean UI, broad product suite, and strong messaging. But after deeper research, we noticed several concerns. Based on publicly available information on LinkedIn, Utila appears to have around 20–30 engineers, nearly the same number of sales and GTM staff, and 10 or more separate products (including some that appear conceptually similar to Fireblocks' offerings, such as Utila Link). The team structure raised questions for us: How do you safely test and maintain 10 or more security-critical products with what appears to be a relatively small QA and engineering team? Even with automation, such coverage leaves a potential scalability concern, especially in custody, where reliability and precision are paramount. We also could not find any publicly available independent validation or proof of concept for Utila's MPC implementation, which made us cautious. For smaller teams or companies who can't afford Fireblocks and simply want a convenient wallet orchestration platform, Utila might be a practical fit. But for us, handling institutional clients and managing large treasuries, we needed a higher degree of assurance and transparency.
Why We Chose Dfns
Dfns stood apart immediately, not because of flashy marketing, but because of technical integrity, focus, and transparency. Their model is straightforward and fair. No hidden fees, no AUM pricing, no lock-ins. They build key management infrastructure the way it should be built: API-first, developer-centric design; Transparent pricing; Mathematically secure key generation (DKG); Hardware-backed signing (HSM) and zero single point of failure; Fully compliant Wallet-as-a-Service (WaaS) layer for enterprise use. Dfns focuses on doing one thing; key security and wallet management, and doing it exceptionally well. They're not trying to launch 10 unrelated products or reinvent the frontend experience. Their focus is precision, scalability, and verifiable cryptography. Their KU23 cryptographic framework was a standout factor for us. It's not just an abstract whitepaper concept; it's production-ready distributed key management, combining MPC, HSM, and threshold signatures in a way that eliminates dependency on any single node or device. With Dfns, keys never exist in one place, not even temporarily. This fits perfectly into our own infrastructure philosophy at Simpleblock.io, where decentralization is a guiding principle, not a buzzword.
How We Use Dfns at Simpleblock.io
Our use cases span multiple layers of our ecosystem: Institutional Treasury Management - Dfns powers our multi-tier treasury logic, enabling distributed authorization and real-time access control without exposing private keys. On-Chain Management - By integrating Dfns's signing APIs into our backend, we automate fund movements with conditional logic without compromising control or compliance. Cold-to-Hot Wallet Bridges - Our internal architecture uses Dfns to coordinate secure, policy-based transitions between cold and hot layers, ensuring liquidity and protection simultaneously. In short, Dfns enables us to move faster, scale safely, and sleep better knowing our custody infrastructure is rooted in strong cryptography rather than human discipline.
The Bigger Picture
Choosing Dfns wasn't just a vendor decision; it was an alignment. At Simpleblock.io, we believe that security shouldn't rely on people, devices, or luck. It should rely on code, math, and transparency. Dfns gave us that foundation; a modern, decentralized approach to custody that matches the pace and scale of our business. Fireblocks and Utila each represent different ends of the custody spectrum; one too centralized and costly, the other too broad and unproven. Dfns, meanwhile, found the balance: secure by design, transparent in pricing, and scalable for real builders. And that's exactly why we chose them.