Sparkassen, the largest banking group in Germany, is said to be introducing cryptocurrency trading services for its retail clients, Bloomberg reports. This development comes three years after the board of directors initially chose not to venture into such services, citing volatility and risk concerns.
The Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe has resolved to allow their private clients to trade a variety of cryptocurrencies, including bitcoin and ETH. The service is slated for a launch by the summer of 2026.
Dekabank, which is fully owned by Sparkassen and already engaged in crypto trading, is reportedly set to oversee Sparkassen’s crypto services. Despite Sparkassen executives previously expressing skepticism about cryptocurrencies, describing them as “highly speculative”, they have now decided to enter the market.
The decision comes in the wake of the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulations coming into force, providing a comprehensive legal structure for crypto businesses in the European Union.
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