TL;DR
- Sparkassen will enable roughly 50 million retail customers to trade Bitcoin and Ether directly in its banking app by summer 2026, leveraging the EU’s new MiCAR regulations.
- The self-service feature, operated by DekaBank, provides custody and execution with clear volatility and loss warnings; no in-branch advice is required.
- Facing pressure from cooperative bank pilots and digital brokers like Trade Republic and N26, Sparkassen embraces a regulated crypto offering to retain market share.
Germany’s largest savings bank network, the Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe, has decided to let customers trade Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies directly through its mobile banking app. A few years ago, an internal Sparkassen committee dismissed crypto as too volatile. Now, thanks to the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets regulation, the group sees a firm legal framework that turns digital assets from taboo into a mainstream service.
A Self-Directed Service with Risk Alerts
Rather than offering investment advice, Sparkassen will roll out a self-service crypto trading feature managed by DekaBank, its central securities arm. Users will see clear warnings about volatility and the potential for total loss, but they’ll be free to buy and sell without in-branch support. This approach empowers “self-determined” investors to explore Bitcoin and Ether while keeping the banks insulated from advisory liability.
Rival Banks and Fintechs Turn Up the Heat
Pressure from cooperative banks and nimble fintechs helped seal the deal. Volksbanken and Raiffeisenbanken have teamed up with DZ Bank and the Stuttgart Stock Exchange to initiate crypto pilot projects.
At the same time, digital-first brokers such as Trade Republic and N26 have attracted millions of retail users into the market. Faced with a surge in client requests and fear of falling behind, Sparkassen opted to embrace a regulated offering rather than cede ground.
One-Year Countdown to 50 Million Customers
Sparkassen is set to launch its new cryptocurrency module by the summer of 2026, allowing approximately 50 million users to trade Bitcoin and Ether. Behind the scenes, DekaBank will handle custody and execution, leveraging its BaFin-licensed infrastructure.
While the service won’t include marketing campaigns or personal guidance, its mere existence signals that cryptocurrencies are no longer fringe assets. As the retail and institutional appetite for digital tokens grows, Sparkassen’s move could accelerate crypto’s march into everyday banking.
