Openbank, the fully digital bank of the Santander Group (LSE:BNC), began offering cryptocurrency trading to retail clients in Germany on Tuesday, September 16, 2025.
Investors can now buy, sell, and hold Bitcoin (COIN:BTCUSD), Ether (COIN:ETHUSD), Litecoin (COIN:LTCUSD), Polygon (COIN:MATICUSD), and Cardano (COIN:ADAUSD) directly on the same platform used for stocks, ETFs, and funds.
This move is a significant step for Santander in expanding into digital assets, providing clients with an environment regulated under European Union rules following the implementation of MiCA, which ensures greater protection and transparency in crypto financial operations.
According to Coty de Monteverde, Santander Group’s Head of Cryptocurrencies, “the inclusion of these assets on the platform responds to growing customer demand and reinforces the bank’s commitment to offering diversified, agile solutions supported by one of the world’s largest financial groups.”
The bank has set a 1.49% fee per transaction, with a minimum of €1 (US$1.18), and no custody fees, aiming to make the service competitive with independent exchanges while providing the added security of a regulated financial institution.
Openbank plans to expand the list of tradable cryptocurrencies and introduce new features in the coming months, including the ability to convert between different digital assets. The expansion will also include clients in Spain.
Recent reports indicate that Santander has been evaluating the creation or integration of euro- or dollar-pegged stablecoins since May.
With this launch, Openbank joins a growing trend among major European and American banks exploring the crypto sector following regulatory advances. In the United States, new stablecoin legislation and political support have accelerated traditional lenders’ entry into the market.
Openbank continues to expand its digital portfolio. Currently, it offers an automated investment service via Robo Advisor, more than 3,000 stocks, 3,000 funds from 123 managers, over 2,000 ETFs, and a brokerage platform equipped with artificial intelligence for analyzing more than 1,000 global securities.
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