Germany's individual investors now have access to a fresh cryptocurrency platform—enabled by the digital banking arm of Santander

Openbank, which operates entirely online and is a subsidiary of

SA, has rolled out a cryptocurrency trading feature for individual customers in Germany. Users can now buy, sell, and store leading digital currencies such as (BTC), Ether (ETH), (LTC), Polygon (MATIC), and (ADA) directly via the Openbank platform. This addition allows clients to manage both their digital and traditional investments from one place, without needing to move funds to external exchanges. The service is currently accessible to all Openbank customers in Germany, with plans to launch in Spain soon.

Backed by Santander’s global network, the new offering is compliant with the European Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA), which aims to protect investors and promote market stability. Openbank’s move into crypto aligns with a broader shift among European banks to adhere to MiCA while responding to increased retail interest in digital assets. The bank has already begun the process of securing relevant licenses under MiCA, potentially paving the way for future expansion in Spain, Germany, Portugal, and the Netherlands, depending on regulatory approval.

Christopher Oster, Openbank’s General Manager, pointed out that Germany is a crucial market for the bank’s growth plans. “We aim to deliver cutting-edge digital services that are both safe and easy to use,” he stated. The crypto service features a competitive transaction fee of 1.50% per trade, with no fees for storing assets. In the near future, Openbank intends to broaden its cryptocurrency offerings and add new features, such as the ability to swap between different digital assets.

Openbank’s venture into the digital asset sector is part of a wider digital finance strategy by Banco

. The parent company is also considering introducing a stablecoin, either by issuing its own token or by providing access to established stablecoins linked to the euro or U.S. dollar. These initiatives reflect a larger industry movement, as stablecoins gain traction in regions facing economic challenges—such as areas of Latin America, where Santander has a substantial presence.

The expansion of Openbank’s crypto services, along with those of its parent, corresponds with the regulatory advancements being made within the European Union as MiCA establishes a standardized framework for

markets. This regulatory certainty has prompted traditional to begin offering digital asset services. Some institutions, like BBVA, have already revealed intentions to launch crypto products across various countries once they receive the green light from regulators. Santander’s early embrace of blockchain technology—including a 2019 launch of a cross-border payments app using Ripple—demonstrates its commitment to digital innovation over the long term.

With the crypto industry becoming more established, rivalry between conventional finance and decentralized finance (DeFi) is expected to grow, especially around open banking and data-sharing issues. Recently, leading banks have proposed fees for open banking data access, which could affect the cost structures of stablecoin transactions and potentially influence the future use of tokens like USDC. How regulators and the market will respond remains unclear, but these developments underscore the ongoing push and pull between innovation and institutional oversight in the digital finance sector.