"BBVA Leans on Ripple to Secure Crypto’s Bank-Grade Future in Europe"

BBVA, the Spanish multinational banking group, has entered into a partnership with Ripple, the US-based blockchain technology company, to offer institutional custody services for Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH) in Europe. The collaboration, announced in late August 2025, builds on BBVA’s recent foray into the retail crypto space and marks a significant step in the bank’s digital asset strategy. Ripple’s institutional custody solution will power BBVA’s offerings, enabling the bank to deliver end-to-end custody services for institutional clients. Francisco Maroto, BBVA’s head of digital assets, emphasized that Ripple’s infrastructure allows the bank to meet the high regulatory and operational standards necessary for institutional-grade custody.

The deal aligns with the broader European regulatory shift under the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation, which has been instrumental in encouraging traditional financial institutions to enter the crypto market. MiCA, which became enforceable in mid-2024, has created a more structured and transparent environment for crypto service providers, reducing uncertainty and fostering innovation. Ripple’s managing director for Europe, Cassie Craddock, noted that MiCA has been a catalyst for banks like BBVA to advance their crypto initiatives. The regulatory clarity provided by MiCA has also led to increased collaboration between banks and blockchain firms, as institutions seek compliant solutions to meet growing client demand for digital assets.

This is not the first time BBVA has partnered with Ripple. In late 2023, BBVA Switzerland migrated its crypto custody infrastructure to Ripple’s platform. Earlier this year, Turkey-based Garanti BBVA also adopted Ripple’s custody services, demonstrating the bank’s ongoing commitment to integrating blockchain technology across its global operations. Ripple’s custody solution has been designed to meet the requirements of large institutional investors, including multi-signature wallets and robust reporting tools, ensuring that clients can manage their digital assets with the same level of security and transparency as traditional financial instruments.

The BBVA-Ripple collaboration is part of a wider trend of European banks expanding their crypto services. Deutsche Bank, Germany’s largest bank, has announced plans to allow clients to store cryptocurrencies in 2026, while Clearstream, the trading unit of Deutsche Boerse, is preparing to launch institutional crypto custody and settlement services this year. Standard Chartered, a global banking giant, has also launched its crypto services in Europe following the acquisition of a digital asset license in Luxembourg. These developments indicate a growing institutional appetite for crypto assets, supported by the evolving regulatory landscape.

Market analysts suggest that European banks are positioning themselves to capture a larger share of the institutional crypto market, which is expected to grow significantly in the coming years. The entry of traditional financial institutions into the crypto space not only legitimizes the asset class but also enhances liquidity and reduces volatility risks for institutional investors. As more banks adopt compliant crypto solutions, the sector is likely to see increased standardization and cross-border interoperability, further integrating digital assets into the global financial system.

Source: [1] BBVA taps Ripple for institutional Bitcoin, Ether custody in Europe (https://cointelegraph.com/news/ripple-bbva-crypto-custody-mica)