Grupo Santander’s digital banking platform, Openbank, has announced an expansion into the European market to cater to the growing demand for cryptocurrency services among German clients. Effective immediately, users in Germany can now buy, sell, and hold a range of cryptocurrencies directly on Openbank’s platform. This new offering includes popular digital assets such as Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH), Litecoin (LTC), Polygon (POL), and Cardano (ADA).
The integration of these cryptocurrency services comes as part of Openbank’s existing investment products, allowing customers to engage in crypto transactions without relying on third-party platforms. This initiative aligns with the European Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA), ensuring compliance with regional legal frameworks.
Coty de Monteverde, the head of crypto at Grupo Santander, emphasized that the addition of cryptocurrency trading was a response to customer interest in digital assets. Openbank currently serves over two million clients across Spain, Germany, Portugal, the Netherlands, the United States, and Mexico, and aims to extend similar services to Spain in the upcoming weeks. This rollout will also introduce further token offerings, as well as advanced features like cryptocurrency-to-cryptocurrency conversions.
Santander, headquartered in Spain, is recognized as one of Europe’s leading banks, boasting a customer base of over 175 million across more than 40 countries. The launch of crypto services marks a significant step for the bank, which has a history of engaging with blockchain technology. Previously, in 2018, Santander introduced One Pay FX, a payments application powered by Ripple, which enabled same-day international transfers for retail customers in several countries, including Spain, the UK, Brazil, and Poland.
In addition to these developments, Santander has been exploring the stablecoin market and is considering the prospect of launching its own dollar- and euro-pegged tokens to enhance its digital currency offerings.
Openbank’s expansion is part of a more extensive trend in Germany’s banking sector, where major financial institutions are increasingly looking to integrate cryptocurrency services. Notably, DZ Bank, Germany’s second-largest bank, launched a crypto pilot program in September 2024 across 700 cooperative banks utilizing Börse Stuttgart Digital’s infrastructure. German banking giant Deutsche Bank is also set to launch a digital asset custody service by 2026, in collaboration with Austria’s Bitpanda and Swiss technology firm Taurus.
The Gesellschaft für Freiheitsbewegungen (Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe) announced intentions to introduce retail cryptocurrency trading services through its Sparkasse app by mid-2026, catering to nearly 50 million German customers and aided by DekaBank and Börse Stuttgart Digital’s technology.
The shift towards cryptocurrency services is not limited to Europe; similar initiatives are unfolding in the United States as well. Following the passage of the GENIUS Act in July 2025, several major U.S. banks, including JPMorgan, Citigroup, and Bank of America, have begun to explore stablecoin issuance and retail-focused cryptocurrency services, signifying a broader acceptance of digital assets across the financial landscape.
