Banco Santander, through its digital platform Openbank, has launched cryptocurrency trading services for its retail clients. As of September 16, customers in Germany can now buy and sell five major cryptocurrencies: Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Polygon, and Cardano. The bank plans to introduce more tokens and expand the service to its Spanish clients in the coming weeks.
This initiative makes Santander one of the first major European banks to offer extensive crypto services to retail customers, a move enabled by the new European MiCA regulation. The service charges a 1.49% transaction fee with a minimum of one euro, but does not have custody fees. Openbank also intends to add features like direct crypto-to-crypto conversions.
By starting in Germany, Santander is using Europe’s largest economy as a test market before rolling out the service in its home country of Spain. The strategy is also aimed at attracting and retaining younger, tech-savvy investors who might otherwise use fintech platforms for their digital asset needs.
September 2025, Cryptoniteuae
