- Deutsche Bank is planning to launch its crypto custody service in 2026, teaming up with Bitpanda and Taurus SA.
- German bank Sparkassen will also offer crypto trading to retail clients by 2026, reversing its anti-crypto stance from 2023.
- Traditional European banks like Standard Chartered are also moving into digital asset custody, signaling broader institutional adoption.
It’s happening—slowly but surely, big banks are jumping further into crypto. And now, Germany’s banking giant Deutsche Bank is setting a clear path. According to a Tuesday report from Bloomberg, the bank is aiming to roll out its own crypto custody service by 2026. Yep, it’s official—crypto custody is no longer just for startups and Web3 natives.
Insiders close to the matter revealed that Deutsche Bank is teaming up with Bitpanda Technology Solutions, the backend brainpower behind crypto exchange Bitpanda. Together, they’re building out the new infrastructure to hold and secure digital assets—stuff like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and potentially stablecoins.
The original idea? That surfaced back in 2022. But now, with more and more traditional financial institutions poking into regulated crypto services, Deutsche Bank is leaning in harder. And it’s not just custody on the table. Word is they’re also exploring stablecoin-related experiments and even public blockchain tools—as long as they check the boxes for regulatory compliance.
Not Their First Rodeo
This move isn’t happening in isolation. Deutsche Bank already has skin in the game. Last year, the bank backed Swiss digital asset firm Taurus SA in a $65 million round. Taurus, by the way, is expected to remain a key player in the rollout of the bank’s crypto plans.
Also worth noting—this isn’t just a Deutsche Bank story. Across Germany, the crypto sentiment is shifting.
Sparkassen Makes a Big U-Turn
Take Sparkassen, for example. In a surprising reversal from their 2023 stance (when they slammed the brakes on crypto, calling it too risky), Sparkassen is now charging forward with plans to let retail customers buy and sell crypto. By summer 2026, customers will be able to access Bitcoin and other digital assets directly through their banking apps, thanks to DekaBank—Sparkassen’s securities division.
This pivot shows just how fast sentiment can flip in the traditional banking world when digital assets start looking more like an opportunity than a threat.
The Bigger Picture
Beyond Germany, the trend is catching on across Europe. Earlier this year, Standard Chartered grabbed its MiCA license—a key regulatory greenlight—to start offering institutional-grade custody for Bitcoin and Ethereum. So yeah, it’s not just the crypto-native firms building anymore. The old guard wants in too.
What started as cautious exploration is turning into real action plans, full of timelines, partnerships, and market-ready products. If Deutsche Bank and others follow through, the next few years could look a whole lot different in crypto finance.
