German banking giant Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe is reportedly planning to launch a crypto trading service by 2026, a major move that will give access to more than 50 million of its customers.
According to a Bloomberg report, the service will be operated by Dekabank, a financial institution under the Sparkassen umbrella that is already involved in the digital asset market.
Crypto trading is expected to be offered directly through the Sparkasse app, the banking company’s official app.
The Association of German Savings Banks (DSGV) said in a statement that they will provide reliable access to regulated crypto offerings.
The launch is also in line with the increasing demand for digital assets among customers.
Furthermore, the service will operate under the new European Union regulatory framework, MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets), which will come into effect this December.
Sparkassen’s move reflects a significant shift in traditional financial institutions’ stance on digital assets, in line with the wave of crypto adoption in the global banking sector.
Previously, Sparkassen executives have publicly rejected any crypto-related services, citing concerns over market volatility and security risks.
In fact, in 2015, the institution had previously blocked its customers from purchasing crypto assets.
However, no promotion or advertising will be made for this new service.
