Openbank, the fully digital banking arm of Santander Group (NYSE:SAN), has rolled out cryptocurrency trading for retail clients in Germany as of Tuesday, September 16, 2025.
Customers can now buy, sell, and hold Bitcoin (COIN:BTCUSD), Ether (COIN:ETHUSD), Litecoin (COIN:LTCUSD), Polygon (COIN:MATICUSD), and Cardano (COIN:ADAUSD) directly through the same platform used for stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds.
This initiative marks an important step for Santander’s expansion into digital assets, providing clients with a fully regulated environment under the EU’s MiCA framework, which aims to enhance transparency and investor protection in crypto transactions.
Coty de Monteverde, Santander Group’s Head of Cryptocurrencies, commented, “The inclusion of these assets on the platform responds to growing client demand and reinforces our commitment to providing diversified, agile solutions backed by one of the world’s leading financial groups.”
Openbank has implemented a transaction fee of 1.49%, with a minimum of €1 (US$1.18), and no custody charges, making it competitive with independent exchanges while offering the security of a regulated financial institution.
Looking ahead, Openbank plans to expand the range of tradable cryptocurrencies and introduce new features, including the ability to swap between different digital assets. The expansion will also cover clients in Spain.
Reports indicate that Santander has been exploring the potential for euro- or dollar-pegged stablecoins since May.
With this launch, Openbank joins other major European and U.S. banks entering the crypto market amid evolving regulations. In the U.S., recent stablecoin legislation and political support have accelerated traditional banks’ involvement in the sector.
Currently, Openbank offers a comprehensive digital portfolio, including a Robo Advisor for automated investments, over 3,000 stocks, 3,000 funds from 123 managers, more than 2,000 ETFs, and an AI-powered brokerage platform that analyzes over 1,000 global securities.
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