BBVA Launches Bitcoin Ethereum Trading for Retail Customers in Spain

BBVA, Spain’s second-largest bank, has launched Bitcoin and Ethereum trading and custody services for retail customers through its mobile app. This move marks a significant entry into the cryptocurrency space, allowing users to buy, sell, and hold crypto assets independently within the bank’s secure digital environment. The service is self-built, eliminating the need for third-party platforms and ensuring a seamless experience for customers.

This launch follows regulatory approval from Spain’s National Securities Market Commission (CNMV) in March 2025 and aligns with the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation. This compliance ensures robust investor protection and market standardization, positioning BBVA as a leader in the evolving financial landscape. The bank’s innovative approach reflects a growing trend of traditional financial institutions embracing digital assets, potentially driving higher crypto adoption in Europe.

Gonzalo Rodríguez, head of retail banking for Spain, emphasized BBVA’s commitment to simplifying crypto investment for its customers. “We aim to leverage BBVA’s strength and security to make crypto investment accessible and straightforward,” he stated. This move builds on the bank’s prior successes, having introduced crypto services in Switzerland in 2021 for private clients and in Turkey in 2023 via Garanti BBVA, now extending to retail in its home market.

BBVA’s entry into direct crypto trading follows its successful implementation of Bitcoin services for clients in Switzerland and Turkey. This strategy leverages the bank's established platform, enabling customers to trade without the need for external custodians. As a major player in the European banking sector, BBVA's approach could inspire other financial institutions to adopt similar strategies, further integrating digital assets into traditional finance.

The launch of these services under the MiCA regulatory framework is a pivotal advancement, as it balances innovation with regulation. This compliance ensures a secure environment for crypto transactions, potentially widening BBVA's client base and influencing the broader financial sector. The increased accessibility of digital assets through BBVA's platform could foster greater confidence in the local market and encourage more fiat inflow into crypto environments.

BBVA’s initiative is part of a broader trend of institutional involvement in digital assets, which is raising market confidence and promoting the adoption of cryptocurrencies. By offering a regulated and user-friendly solution, BBVA is positioning itself as a leader in the integration of digital finance, inviting further regulatory clarity and innovation in the sector. Francisco Maroto, head of digital assets at BBVA, noted that the bank plans to expand its offerings, potentially including more cryptocurrencies and tokenized products like bonds and funds. This could pressure rival banks to follow suit, especially as a 2023 report highlights that tokenization could cut transaction costs by up to 30% and speed up cross-border settlements.