Bitcoin News Today: As Germany Debates Bitcoin Exemption, Nordea Launches Regulated ETP

Nordea Bank, one of Scandinavia's largest financial institutions, announced plans to launch a Bitcoin-tracking exchange-traded product (ETP) in December 2025, marking its formal entry into the crypto asset market, according to a Bitget report. The move aligns with the European Union's implementation of the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulatory framework, which took full effect in December 2024. The synthetic ETP, manufactured by CoinShares International Limited, will offer exposure to Bitcoin for experienced investors seeking alternative assets, though Nordea will not provide investment advice for the product, the Bitget report noted.

The decision reflects a broader shift in the Nordic banking sector as regulatory clarity and growing institutional demand reshape the crypto landscape. Nordea had historically maintained a cautious stance on cryptocurrencies but acknowledged that MiCA's comprehensive oversight has matured the European market. The bank emphasized its commitment to monitoring blockchain technology and expanding services as the market evolves, the Bitget report added.

Simultaneously, political debates in Germany highlight diverging views on crypto regulation. The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party submitted a parliamentary motion to exempt Bitcoin from MiCA, arguing that its decentralized, non-manipulable nature distinguishes it from other crypto assets, according to a Coinotag report. The proposal seeks to preserve Bitcoin's role as a strategic reserve asset, tax clarity for holders, and exemptions for private-sector mining activities. AfD also criticized Germany's 2024 sale of nearly 50,000 BTC—worth $3 billion—as a missed opportunity to build national Bitcoin reserves, according to a Cryptopolitan article.

The ETP market itself is expanding rapidly, with Deutsche Digital Assets (DDA) and Safello recently launching the Safello Bittensor Staked TAO ETP on the SIX Swiss Exchange. This product offers regulated exposure to Bittensor (TAO), an AI-focused blockchain network, with staking rewards reinvested into the ETP's net asset value (NAV), as reported by a CryptoTimes report. The TAO ETP, domiciled in Liechtenstein and charging a 1.49% expense ratio, underscores growing investor interest in AI-integrated blockchain ecosystems, according to a Yahoo Finance article.

CoinShares, another major player, introduced a staked Toncoin ETP (CTON) offering a 2% yield, despite Toncoin's 59% year-to-date decline in market value, according to a LiveBitcoinNews article. The product, trading on SIX, reflects a trend of institutional-grade crypto ETPs combining price exposure with staking rewards. CoinShares also expanded its altcoin offerings with the DIME ETF in the U.S., further diversifying its crypto portfolio, according to a FinanceFeeds article.

The convergence of regulatory frameworks, political debates, and product innovation signals a maturing crypto market. While Nordea's Bitcoin ETP and similar products provide traditional investors with compliant access to digital assets, debates over Bitcoin's regulatory treatment—such as the AfD's MiCA exemption push, noted by the Bitget report and the Coinotag proposal—highlight tensions between innovation and oversight. As ETPs gain traction, they may redefine institutional participation in crypto, blending decentralized finance with traditional infrastructure.