Germany’s Sparkassen banking group is rolling out cryptocurrency trading to 50 million retail customers by summer 2026. That’s right—50 million people getting bitcoin access through their regular banking apps. The move directly targets fintech rivals like Trade Republic who’ve been eating traditional banks’ lunch. Meanwhile, Commerzbank already launched corporate crypto services in late 2023, snagging the first crypto custody license among German universal banks. This isn’t just adoption—it’s a full-scale digital revolution reshaping European banking forever.
While most people were still debating whether crypto was a fad or the future, Germany’s banking giants quietly made their move. Sparkassen, the country’s largest banking group, just announced plans to bring bitcoin and crypto trading to roughly 50 million retail customers by summer 2026. That’s not a typo—50 million people getting crypto access through their regular banking apps.
Germany’s largest banking group just handed 50 million customers the keys to crypto trading through their everyday banking apps.
The timing isn’t coincidental. Bitcoin’s been hitting all-time highs, and fintech companies like Trade Republic have been eating traditional banks’ lunch. Sparkassen apparently got tired of watching from the sidelines.
They’re not alone in this crypto pivot. Commerzbank, Germany’s second-largest bank, already launched crypto custody and trading services for corporate clients in late 2023. They partnered with Crypto Finance, a Deutsche Börse subsidiary, to handle the technical heavy lifting. Smart move, considering Crypto Finance has been doing regulated crypto services since 2017.
Commerzbank received the first crypto custody license among German universal banks in 2023. They’re starting with bitcoin and ether—the obvious choices given their market dominance and liquidity. Their initial target? About 26,000 corporate clients, with room to grow.
Here’s what makes this interesting: Germany’s regulatory environment actually allows universal banks to get crypto custody licenses. BaFin, the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority, licenses companies like Crypto Finance to operate regulated crypto services. No Wild West shenanigans here. The Crypto Task Force initiative by the SEC has helped establish clearer regulatory guidance for banks worldwide.
The numbers tell the story. More than 200 global companies now hold bitcoin on their corporate balance sheets as of 2025. Institutional interest isn’t just growing—it’s exploding. Bitcoin’s current market cap sits at approximately $2.1 trillion, with analysts projecting potential growth of 134% as institutional adoption accelerates.
Sparkassen’s move targets the retail segment while Commerzbank focuses on corporate clients. Both banks are emphasizing security, compliance, and scalability. Because nothing kills crypto adoption faster than customers losing their digital assets to some sketchy exchange.
The competitive pressure from fintech firms pushed these traditional banks to innovate or risk irrelevance. Sparkassen’s 50 million customers represent massive potential for crypto adoption in Germany’s financial ecosystem. This crypto rollout represents part of Commerzbank’s broader digitalization strategy to modernize their banking services.
Both banks plan to expand their crypto offerings based on customer demand and regulatory approval. Translation: if people want more digital assets beyond bitcoin and ether, they’ll probably get them.
