Openbank, the web banking arm of Banco Santander, has began providing retail prospects direct entry to cryptocurrencies in Germany, in response to firm statements and market studies.
The service lets customers purchase, promote and maintain crypto inside their checking account, with buying and selling out there for Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Polygon and Cardano.
Primarily based on studies, the financial institution plans to make the providing out there in Spain inside weeks and to roll it out to different EU international locations later this yr.
Santander Expands Crypto Entry
The brand new characteristic is constructed into Openbank’s funding platform so prospects don’t want to maneuver cash to an outdoor change.
In response to the financial institution, customers can commerce cash from the identical app the place they handle different accounts.
Openbank, Banco Santander’s on-line financial institution, has began providing retail crypto buying and selling, the newest transfer by a significant European lender into the asset class https://t.co/IcozNgW1at
— Bloomberg (@enterprise) September 16, 2025
The preliminary checklist contains 5 main tokens, chosen for liquidity and demand, whereas a broader menu of property is anticipated in future updates.
Buying and selling Prices And Custody Guidelines
Experiences have disclosed the purchase and promote charge is 1.49% per transaction, with a minimal cost of €one per operation.
There aren’t any custody charges for holding property on the platform, the financial institution says. For informal traders who plan to purchase and maintain, that no-holding-fee mannequin could also be enticing.
Heavy merchants, although, might discover the 1.49% value increased than some devoted crypto exchanges.
Rollout Timeline And Limits
Openbank’s launch started in Germany. Primarily based on studies, Spain will observe within the coming weeks, and broader EU availability is deliberate later within the yr.
The financial institution has indicated that it’s going to add further cryptocurrencies sooner or later and doubtlessly supply crypto-to-crypto conversion sooner or later.
At present, the service is all about fiat-to-crypto direct trades and a restricted number of well-known cash.
Regulatory And Compliance Notes
The product is roofed below the European Markets in Crypto-Property regime, or MiCA, which offers guidelines for crypto providers inside the EU.
The financial institution will implement KYC and AML processes relevant to regulated monetary establishments, studies add. Meaning prospects can count on identification checks and normal anti-money-laundering controls once they signal as much as commerce.
Why It Issues For Prospects
This transfer brings crypto buying and selling into the mainstream banking app for retail customers. Experiences have disclosed that conventional banks including crypto options could make it simpler for on a regular basis savers to attempt these property with out opening accounts on unfamiliar platforms.
On the similar time, the restricted preliminary token checklist and the charge degree imply critical crypto customers may nonetheless want specialist exchanges for low charges or entry to many smaller tokens.
Santander’s digital unit has mentioned it is going to broaden the service and widen the asset checklist. Primarily based on studies, the financial institution goals to steadiness regulated oversight with simpler entry for retail shoppers.
Observers will probably be watching how pricing, supported tokens and country-by-country rollout play out within the months forward.
Featured picture from American Banker, chart from TradingView
Editorial Course of for bitcoinist is centered on delivering totally researched, correct, and unbiased content material. We uphold strict sourcing requirements, and every web page undergoes diligent evaluation by our crew of prime know-how consultants and seasoned editors. This course of ensures the integrity, relevance, and worth of our content material for our readers.
