Germany’s largest banking group Sparkassen adds cryptocurrency trading services: report

Germany's largest banking group, Sparkassen, is reportedly adding cryptocurrency trading services for retail client accounts, according to Bloomberg. The move comes about three years after the board of directors decided to avoid such offerings due to concerns over volatility and risk.Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe has decided to allow private clients to trade a variety of cryptocurrencies, including bitcoin and ETH, Bloomberg reported on Monday. The service is expected to launch by the summer of 2026Dekabank, a wholly owned Sparkassen entity already involved in the crypto trade, is reportedly tapped to manage Sparkassen’s crypto services. Sparkassen executives have been critical of cryptocurrencies in the past, calling them "highly speculative.”The move comes months after the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulations came into effect, providing a unified legal framework for crypto businesses in the EU. Disclaimer: The Block is an independent media outlet that delivers news, research, and data. As of November 2023, Foresight Ventures is a majority investor of The Block. Foresight Ventures invests in other companies in the crypto space. Crypto exchange Bitget is an anchor LP for Foresight Ventures. The Block continues to operate independently to deliver objective, impactful, and timely information about the crypto industry. Here are our current financial disclosures.© 2025 The Block. All Rights Reserved. This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.