DZ Bank Approved for Crypto Trading Platform Launch

DZ Bank, Germany's second-largest banking group, has received regulatory approval to launch a cryptocurrency trading platform, marking a significant step in integrating digital assets into traditional banking services. The approval from the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority, BaFin, under the European Union's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation, or MiCAR, was granted in late December 2025 and announced publicly this week. The platform, named meinKrypto, will enable retail customers of cooperative banks to trade select cryptocurrencies directly through their existing mobile banking applications.

The meinKrypto platform will initially offer trading in four major cryptocurrencies: Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and Cardano. It integrates seamlessly into the VR Banking App, providing users with a native digital wallet for self-directed investments alongside their traditional accounts. This setup allows millions of retail savers associated with over 700 cooperative banks, including Volksbanken and Raiffeisenbanken, to access crypto without needing separate exchanges or complex decentralized finance tools. DZ Bank, which manages more than 1.2 trillion euros in assets, developed...