Germany's savings banks start crypto trading: “When a savings bank starts is for it to decide”

The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Cryptocurrency investments carry a high degree of risk. Always conduct your own research.The first German savings banks have switched on crypto trading in the App Sparkasse, with Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Solana and Polygon tradable. There is no nationwide launch date, and the private keys stay in trust at DekaBank.Since today, Monday, October 19, 2026, the first Sparkasse customers have been able to buy and sell cryptocurrencies directly in the App Sparkasse. Five assets are tradable: Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Solana and Polygon. Behind the offering stands DekaBank, the securities house of the Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe, with custody run in cooperation with Boerse Stuttgart. There is no nationwide launch date. "When a savings bank starts is for it to decide," Joachim Schmalzl, a managing board member of the German Savings Banks Association (DSGV), told the news agency dpa. "Interest within the group is high," Schmalzl added. Another 30 to 40 institutions are to join each month, and in the first half of 2027 the association wants a large share of the interested savings ban...