Key Takeaways
- The move will allow customers to buy and sell Bitcoin and Ethereum in a regulated environment.
- DekaBank, which is already active in the digital asset sector, has been selected to manage the new services.
In a significant development, Germany’s Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe is preparing to introduce crypto trading services to its more than 50 million clients by mid-2026. The initiative will be facilitated through DekaBank also known as the Savings Banks Financial Group, the group’s securities platform, and will be integrated directly into Sparkasse’s mobile banking apps.
As per reports, the move will allow customers to buy and sell Bitcoin and Ethereum in a regulated environment. Reportedly, Sparkassen confirmed that retail demand was a central driver behind the decision. The crypto rollout comes amid the enforcement of the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulatory framework, which offers legal clarity for institutions offering digital asset services within the EU member states.
DekaBank, which is already active in the digital asset sector, has been selected to manage the new services. The crypto function will be embedded in the existing Sparkasse banking app, offering seamless access for retail users.
Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe includes over 370 savings banks and more than 500 affiliated companies, with combined assets exceeding €2.5 trillion. The decision positions the group ahead of traditional banking rivals such as BNP Paribas and Societe Generale, which have limited their crypto involvement to custody and tokenization services.
The German Savings Banks Association (DSGV) said the group will provide “reliable access to a regulated crypto offering.” However, the association emphasized that its core view on digital assets remains unchanged. “Cryptocurrencies are highly speculative investments,” DSGV said. There will be no marketing campaigns for the service, and customers will be warned of the risks involved, including the possibility of total financial loss.
Sparkassen has however, not always been receptive to digital assets. In 2015, the banking giant blocked crypto-related transactions due to concerns over volatility and regulatory ambiguity.
The latest development comes amid other major German banks venturing into the world of crypto. DZ Bank launched a crypto pilot in partnership with Boerse Stuttgart Digital in 2024, while Landesbank Baden-Württemberg partnered with Bitpanda to offer crypto custody for institutional clients.
