The move represents a significant policy shift for Sparkassen, which had previously avoided crypto offerings due to concerns about volatility and risk.
Sparkassen’s wholly owned subsidiary, Dekabank, will develop and manage the platform.
Dekabank secured a crypto custody license under Germany’s Banking Act from the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin), enabling it to provide trading and custody services for institutional clients. The upcoming retail expansion marks its next strategic milestone.
Bloomberg noted that the country’s anti-money laundering agency reported a record 8,711 suspicious activity reports tied to crypto transactions in 2024, even as overall financial crime alerts declined compared to prior years.
Sparkassen’s nearly 50 million retail customers could significantly accelerate mainstream adoption of digital assets in Europe’s largest economy.
