Openbank Expands Crypto Trading to Germany, Spain Launch Imminent
Table of Contents
Openbank, Grupo Santander’s fully digital bank, is now offering cryptocurrency trading to its customers in Germany, with plans to extend the service to Spain in the coming weeks. This move allows customers to buy, sell, and hold major cryptocurrencies directly within their existing Openbank accounts, benefiting from the security and regulatory protections of the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation.
Openbank’s Cryptocurrency Offering
Starting September 16, 2025, Openbank customers in Germany can trade the following cryptocurrencies:
* Bitcoin (BTC): https://bitcoin.org/en/ – The first and most well-known cryptocurrency.
* Ether (ETH): https://ethereum.org/en/ – The native cryptocurrency of the Ethereum platform.
* Litecoin (LTC): https://litecoin.org/ – An early Bitcoin alternative, known for faster transaction times.
* Polygon (MATIC): https://polygon.technology/ – A layer-2 scaling solution for Ethereum.
* Cardano (ADA): https://cardano.org/ – A blockchain platform focused on sustainability and scalability.
The service eliminates the need for customers to transfer funds to external cryptocurrency exchanges, offering a streamlined and secure trading experience. Openbank plans to expand its cryptocurrency portfolio and introduce functionalities like cryptocurrency conversions in the future.
Fees and Regulatory Compliance
Openbank’s cryptocurrency trading service features competitive fees:
* Trading Fee: 1.49% on asset sales and purchases (with a minimum fee of €1 per operation).
* Custody Fee: No custody fees are charged for holding cryptocurrencies.
The service operates under the framework of the European Union’s MiCA regulation, ensuring investor protection and regulatory compliance. MiCA, fully implemented in December 2024, provides a harmonized legal framework for crypto-assets in the EU. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20230517STO03427/markets-in-crypto-assets-micas-rules-approved
Santander’s Crypto Strategy
Coty de Monteverde, Head of Crypto at Grupo Santander, emphasized the bank’s commitment to meeting customer demand and strengthening its product offerings. “By incorporating the main cryptocurrencies into our investment platform, we are responding to the demand of some of our customers and continue to strengthen a broad range of products and services through an agile, simple technology platform backed by one of the world’s leading financial groups,” she stated.
this launch builds upon Santander’s broader exploration of digital assets.In 2023, Santander announced plans to offer crypto custody services to institutional investors. https://www.reuters.com/technology/santander-launch-crypto-custody-services-institutional-investors-2023-11-16/
Expanding investment Options at Openbank
The addition of cryptocurrency trading enhances Openbank’s existing investment platform, which already includes:
* Robo Advisor: Automated investment services.
* Stocks: Access to over 3,000 stocks.
* Investment Funds: A portfolio of over 3,000 funds from more than 123 asset managers.
* ETFs: Access to over 2,000 Exchange Traded Funds.
* AI-powered Broker Platform: A platform equipped with artificial intelligence tools providing target prices for over 1,000 European and US stocks.
Key Takeaways
* Openbank is expanding its services to include cryptocurrency trading for customers in Germany, with Spain to follow.
* The platform supports Bitcoin,Ether,Litecoin,Polygon,and Cardano.
* Trading fees are 1.49% with a minimum of €1 per transaction, and there are no custody fees.
* The service is fully compliant with the EU’s MiCA regulation.
* This launch is part of Grupo Santander’s broader strategy to integrate digital assets into its financial services.
Openbank’s move reflects a growing trend among conventional financial institutions to embrace cryptocurrencies and cater to increasing customer demand for digital asset