Santander expands the investment opportunities for its retail clients by launching cryptocurrency trading through its online subsidiary, Openbank.
This is reported by Finway
New Opportunities for Openbank Users
The Spanish financial group Banco Santander SA has begun integrating cryptocurrencies into its service ecosystem. From now on, Openbank clients in Germany can buy and sell digital assets such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Polygon, and Cardano. In the coming weeks, this service will also be available in Spain, and the list of available cryptocurrencies is expected to expand further.
“By including major cryptocurrencies in our investment platform, we are responding to the demand from some of our clients,” said Coti de Monteverde, head of the cryptocurrency division at Grupo Santander.
Openbank has set a fee of 1.49% for each transaction with a minimum transaction amount of €1 (approximately $1.18). There is no fee for storing assets, making the new service attractive to investors.
European Trend of Cryptocurrency Integration
Santander’s initiative aligns with the broader European trend in financial services development: leading banks are actively implementing cryptocurrency services in response to client demand and new market regulations for crypto assets (MiCA) in the EU. In particular, in July 2025, the UAE bank RAKBANK announced the launch of cryptocurrency trading in partnership with Bitpanda, and in August, CMB International Securities became the first Chinese brokerage firm to officially enter the cryptocurrency market in Hong Kong. Additionally, the Spanish bank BBVA recently integrated Ripple Custody solutions for secure storage of digital assets.
According to Bloomberg, Santander is considering the possibility of issuing its own stablecoin, reflecting the global trend in the development of digital assets. This direction is also supported in the U.S., where the Trump administration is promoting legislative changes in the area of stablecoins, encouraging banks to engage in the digital currency market.
Openbank has every chance of becoming a key player at the intersection of traditional banking and the crypto industry, offering innovative investment tools to its clients.
It is worth noting that in May 2024, the neobank Revolut launched the Revolut X cryptocurrency exchange for experienced traders, and in March 2025, it released a mobile app for this exchange.