German Cooperative Banks and British Stock Exchange Expand Access to Cryptocurrencies

Banking App Becomes Crypto Trading Platform

Retail customers of Volks- and Raiffeisenbanken in Germany will soon be able to trade cryptocurrencies directly via their banking app. The new platform "meinKrypto" from DZ Bank has received official MiCAR approval from financial regulator BaFin and enables trading in Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and Cardano ^[2].

The license permits DZ Bank to operate the service nationwide for affiliated cooperative banks. The platform is aimed at self-directed investors who wish to invest in cryptocurrencies independently without advice ^[2]. A digital wallet will be integrated into the VR Banking App, allowing customers to manage their crypto assets autonomously ^[2].

Gradual Rollout at Cooperative Banks

Not all of the approximately 700 Volks- and Raiffeisenbanken will introduce the offering immediately. According to surveys, however, at least one-third of the institutions plan to launch in the coming months ^[2]. Each cooperative bank decides individually on participation, but must apply for its own MiCAR notification with BaFin ^[2].

The technical development of the platform was carried out by IT service provider Atruvia in collaboration with DZ Bank ^[2]. Börse Stuttgart Digital Custody is responsible for cryptocurrency custody, while trade execution takes place via EUWAX ^[2].

Sparkassen Planning Own Solution

The Sparkassen savings banks are also preparing to enter the crypto business. They plan to offer their own solution for cryptocurrency custody via Dekabank in the first half of 2026 ^[2].

Bitcoin-Gold ETP Launches in London

Parallel to developments in Germany, global ETP provider 21Shares is expanding access to its investment product that tracks both Bitcoin and gold. The 21Shares Bitcoin Gold ETP (BOLD) was listed on the London Stock Exchange on Tuesday ^[1].

"Now that UK retail investors have access to crypto ETPs, 21Shares is committed to delivering a broader range of innovative regulated products," said Russell Barlow, CEO of 21Shares ^[1].

The London listing comes years after BOLD's debut on the SIX Swiss Exchange in April 2022. Since then, the company has listed the product on major European exchanges, including Deutsche Börse Xetra, Euronext Amsterdam, Euronext Paris, and Nasdaq Stockholm ^[1].

Balanced Allocation Between Gold and Bitcoin

The product, developed in partnership with investment research platform ByteTree Asset Management, is 100 percent physically backed by its underlying assets. As of January 12, the 21Shares Bitcoin Gold ETP held 65.85 percent gold and 34.15 percent Bitcoin ^[1].

"Bitcoin and gold are increasingly viewed as complementary assets in a world of persistent inflation and monetary uncertainty," said Charles Morris, founder and Chief Investment Officer of ByteTree ^[1]. The fund trades on the LSE under the ticker "BOLD" in British pounds and "BOLU" in US dollars ^[1].

The ETP has a net asset value of $50.3, assets under management of $40.2 million, and an annual management fee of 0.65 percent ^[1]. As of late last week, 21Shares managed approximately $4 billion in assets in European crypto ETPs, representing about 2 percent of the $181.9 billion in global crypto ETP assets ^[1].