Sparkassen to Offer Crypto Trading by 2026 Following EU MiCA Regime

Germany’s largest banking group, Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe, is set to offer crypto trading services to its retail clients by summer 2026. This move marks a significant policy shift for Sparkassen, which had previously avoided crypto offerings due to concerns about volatility and risk. In 2023, the bank’s board of directors voted to hold back from digital asset services, labeling cryptocurrencies as “highly speculative.” However, this stance has now changed, and Sparkassen will allow private clients to trade leading tokens, including Bitcoin and Ethereum, directly from their accounts.

Sparkassen’s wholly owned subsidiary, Dekabank, will develop and manage the platform. Dekabank secured a crypto custody license under Germany’s Banking Act from the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin), enabling it to provide trading and custody services for institutional clients. The upcoming retail expansion marks its next strategic milestone.

The decision to offer crypto trading services follows the implementation of the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulatory regime. MiCA established a single, harmonized legal framework for crypto businesses across EU member states, providing clarity and emboldening several European banks to accelerate their crypto initiatives. However, German regulators continue to monitor crypto-related risks closely, with the country’s anti-money laundering agency reporting a record number of suspicious activity reports tied to crypto transactions in 2024.

Despite improved compliance measures, officials have warned that digital assets remain an attractive channel for illicit flows. Sparkassen’s entry into retail crypto services reflects a broader European banking trend, with initiatives from Börse Stuttgart’s “Bison” app, cooperative banks, Landesbanken, and Deutsche Börse demonstrating strong demand from retail investors for regulated crypto products in Germany. Sparkassen’s nearly 50 million retail customers could significantly accelerate mainstream adoption of digital assets in Europe’s largest economy.