German Banking Giant Sparkassen to Launch Bitcoin, Ether Trading in Banking Apps by 2026

Key Points

1. Sparkassen's Dekabank will oversee the crypto offering through the group’s mobile banking app, enabling direct trading of Bitcoin and Ether.

2. The move is facilitated by the EU’s MiCA framework, which took effect in December, allowing regulated crypto offerings.

3. Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe, spanning over 500 financial institutions, manages more than €2.5 trillion ($2.9 trillion) in assets.

4. Industry leaders, such as ERA Labs CEO Filipp Bolotov and Master Ventures’ Kyle Chasse, view this as a significant step toward mainstream crypto adoption.

5. Other major German banks, like DZ Bank and Landesbank Baden-Württemberg, have also begun integrating crypto services, reflecting broader industry momentum.