Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe, Germany’s premier banking consortium, has announced plans to introduce cryptocurrency trading for its 50 million clients by the summer of 2026, representing a significant shift for the nation’s largest financial institution.
Key Points:
Sparkassen will enable crypto trading for 50 million customers by summer 2026.
Dekabank will oversee the new service, facilitating direct transactions of Bitcoin and Ether through Sparkassen’s mobile application.
This initiative reflects a growing trend among German banks to incorporate cryptocurrency into their offerings.
As reported by Bloomberg, Dekabank, a subsidiary of Sparkassen, will manage this crypto offering via the group’s banking app, allowing users to engage in direct trading of Bitcoin and Ether.
The German Savings Banks Association (DSGV) has confirmed the development, ensuring that customers will have “reliable access to a regulated crypto offering,” permitted under the EU’s MiCA regulations, which came into effect in December.
A Major Shift Following 2015 Crypto Restrictions
Historically, Sparkassen’s management had been cautious about cryptocurrency, once rejecting such services due to concerns over volatility and blocking all crypto purchases for clients in 2015.
While the organization has adapted its stance, the DSGV emphasized a careful approach, deeming cryptocurrencies as “highly speculative investments” and affirming that no marketing efforts will accompany the new feature.
Instead, customers will receive comprehensive information regarding potential risks, including the possibility of total losses.
The Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe encompasses over 500 financial entities, including more than 370 savings banks, managing more than €2.5 trillion ($2.9 trillion) in assets. This extensive network enhances the crypto initiative’s potential reach.
Support for this move has emerged from various industry leaders. ERA Labs CEO Filipp Bolotov deemed it a significant step towards mainstream acceptance, while Kyle Chasse of Master Ventures noted that it illustrates banks “catching up” with the evolving crypto landscape.
BREAKING: GERMANY’S TOP BANK GROUP SPARKASSEN TO OFFER RETAIL CRYPTO TRADING BY 2026.
THE BANKS ARE CATCHING UP!!! pic.twitter.com/rrykogR1Tl
— Kyle Chassé / DD (@kyle_chasse) June 30, 2025
Other major financial institutions in Germany have already initiated the integration of cryptocurrency services.
DZ Bank, recognized as the country’s second-largest lender, collaborated with Boerse Stuttgart Digital last year to pilot crypto trading and custodial services, with plans to extend these offerings across its network of 700 cooperative banks following initial trials.
Additionally, Landesbank Baden-Württemberg, Germany’s largest regional bank, revealed intentions in April 2024 to provide crypto custody services for institutional clients in partnership with Bitpanda.
This trend extends beyond Germany; during an April address, Eric Trump cautioned that banks that resist crypto adoption might face obsolescence within a decade, citing complications in speed and cost associated with traditional finance.
At Paris Blockchain Week, industry experts, including Messari’s Eric Turner and Sygnum Bank’s Thomas Eichenberger, predicted a more extensive banking push into crypto services as regulatory clarity improves later this year.
Increased Crypto Allocation Recommendations from Financial Advisors
Veteran advisor Ric Edelman has advocated for up to 40% of investment portfolios to be allocated to cryptocurrency, a significant rise from his previous recommendation of just 1%.
Interviewed by Finance Newso, Edelman remarked that uncertainties surrounding government bans and institutional adoption have been alleviated, effectively establishing cryptocurrency as a mainstream asset class.
He highlighted robust inflows into Bitcoin ETFs as indicators of growing acceptance among investors and financial advisors.
Edelman suggested that the conventional 60/40 stock-bond investment strategy is no longer optimal given today’s longer life expectancies, advocating for portfolios that offer greater returns.
Additionally, he noted that cryptocurrency’s performance tends to be uncorrelated with traditional assets, arguing that it can offer valuable diversification and enhance risk-adjusted returns.
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