German public savings banks are poised to offer cryptocurrency trading services to its more than 50 million customers, with a planned launch by summer 2026, according to Bloomberg reports.

Dekabank, a Sparkassen subsidiary and a bank already engaged with cryptocurrencies, will manage the new service via the existing Sparkasse mobile app. The Savings Banks Association of Germany (DSGV) confirmed the broader approval, sating: “The Savings Banks Finance Group will provide reliable access to a regulated crypto offering.”

This rollout aligns with the European Union regulatory framework for crypto assets, MiCAR (Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation), which came into formal operation in December 2024.

Late Bloomer for Major Banker

According to reports, Sparkassen executives had previously dismissed crypto services due to market volatility and regulatory uncertainty. Even as recently as 2015, the vast banking cooperative blocked its customers from using cryptocurrencies.

Despite this cautious history, the DSGV acknowledged market demand as a catalyst. While endorsing the service’s existence under a regulated EU framework, the association clarified its underlying position: “Cryptocurrencies are highly speculative investments.” Promotional advertising is reportedly excluded; customers will receive clear risk disclosures, inclusive of the “potential for total loss.”

With over 2.5 trillion euros in assets under management, Sparkassen represents Germany’s largest banking cooperative, serving 370-plus individual savings banks and more than 500 companies.

German Banks Making Crypto Inroads

The Sparkassen decision reflects an accelerating trend of European banks cautiously entering the cryptocurrency market. Industry leaders weighed in on the significance.

Filipp Bolotov, founder and CEO of AI and blockchain firm ERA Labs, noted Monday that Sparkassen’s approval marks a “big move for mainstream adoption.”

Other institutions in Germany have been testing the waters. DZ Bank, the nation’s second-largest, partnered with Stuttgart Digital Exchange (Boerse Stuttgart Digital) for a crypto pilot in September 2024. Plans involve broader rollout across its cooperative network after testing. Separately, Landesbank Baden-Württemberg announced in 2025 it would offer crypto custody to institutional clients via Bitpanda.

The Push for Mainstream Banking Integration

The evolving relationship extends to elite financial circles; former Trump Organization executive vice president Eric Trump predicted on April 30 that traditional banks will find strong competition unavoidable if they don’t embrace crypto.

Meanwhile, industry predictions diverge on the exact timing. Messari CEO Eric Turner and Sygnum’s Thomas Eichenberger foresee deeper banking integration in crypto services during 2025/2026, contingent on clearer regulatory acceptance of crypto, including stablecoins.