CMC News

#Santander Openbank Debuts Crypto Trading Services in Germany

Grupo Santander's digital banking subsidiary #Openbank has launched #cryptocurrency trading services for #German clients, with plans to expand across Europe. The fully digital bank now enables customers to buy, sell, and hold major cryptocurrencies directly through its platform, without requiring third-party services.

German customers gained access to trading services for $BTC, $ETH, $LTC, and $POL as part of the bank's expanding product offerings. The integration operates under the European Union's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation framework, providing regulatory compliance and investor protection guarantees.

Coty de Monteverde, Grupo Santander's Head of Crypto, emphasized that the launch responds directly to rising customer demand for digital asset services. The bank plans to extend these #cryptocurrency trading capabilities to Spanish clients within the coming weeks as part of broader European expansion.

Openbank serves more than 2 million clients across Spain, Germany, Portugal, the Netherlands, the United States, and Mexico. The bank's crypto trading launch positions Santander among Europe's largest financial institutions embracing digital asset services under regulatory frameworks.

The move aligns with broader trends among German financial institutions preparing to integrate crypto services following MiCA implementation. DZ Bank launched a crypto pilot across 700 cooperative banks, while Deutsche Bank announced digital asset custody services planned for 2026.

Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe recently announced plans to roll out retail crypto trading to nearly 50 million German customers through its Sparkasse app by mid-2026. The developments reflect the accelerating adoption of cryptocurrency services among traditional European banking institutions.