Sparkassen Plans Crypto Trading Access for Retail Customers
Germany’s network of public savings banks, Sparkassen, is preparing to let its customers trade cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum directly through their mobile banking apps, according to Bloomberg.
The banking group, which traces its roots back to the founding of the first savings bank in Hamburg in 1778, intends to roll out crypto trading services for private clients using DekaBank, its securities platform. The launch is targeted for the summer of 2026.
Earlier this year, DekaBank began offering crypto trading and custody services to institutional clients, signaling an increasing push toward integrating digital assets into traditional financial services.
The German Savings Bank Association (DSGV) is reportedly backing this initiative, pointing to growing customer interest and clearer regulations under the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR).
Matthias Diessl, president of the Bavarian Savings Banks, previously stated that savings banks should give customers the ability to trade cryptocurrencies—a significant shift from Sparkassen’s earlier cautious stance. Just three years ago, a group within the association had advised against introducing crypto trading to retail customers.
Despite this evolving perspective, the DSGV still considers crypto assets highly speculative and urges caution, even as customer interest in digital assets continues to expand.
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