DZ Bank has received approval from Germany’s financial regulator BaFin to launch its cryptocurrency trading platform. The approval comes under the European Union’s MiCAR framework. The platform will initially offer four major cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin and Ethereum.
The new service, named meinKrypto, will provide access to retail customers of DZ Bank and its affiliated local cooperative banks. These institutions will now be able to offer crypto trading services through the platform. The service is integrated into the VR Banking App, enabling users to invest directly from their existing banking interface.
Crypto Offerings and Custody Solutions
The meinKrypto platform will launch with Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Litecoin (LTC), and Cardano (ADA). The custody of these digital assets will be handled by Boerse Stuttgart Digital. This entity, part of the Boerse Stuttgart Group, is regulated to ensure secure asset storage.
Trades executed on meinKrypto will be processed by EUWAX AG, a Germany-based financial services provider. This company is a subsidiary of Boerse Stuttgart GmbH. The partnership with Boerse Stuttgart ensures that the platform has a regulated and secure foundation for digital asset transactions.
Collaborations and Regional Expansion
DZ Bank’s initiative to enter the crypto market follows a series of preparations. A pilot program, launched in December 2024, allowed select cooperative banks to test the platform. Westerwald Bank was the first cooperative bank to trial the service, setting the stage for wider adoption across Germany’s cooperative financial network.
With the regulatory green light, the cooperative banks now face the task of securing their individual MiCAR notifications. Only after this will they be able to roll out crypto trading services to their customers. DZ Bank’s collaboration with Ripple subsidiary Metaco also laid the groundwork for this launch, with crypto custody solutions introduced in late 2023.
As Germany’s largest cooperative bank, DZ Bank’s move into the crypto space positions it as a key player in the growing digital assets sector. While the platform starts with a limited selection of assets, future expansions are likely as the market develops. With growing regulatory support and institutional collaboration, the country’s banking sector appears increasingly open to digital currencies.