DekaBank Launches Crypto Trading and Custody for Institutions

German investment bank DekaBank, which manages $395 billion in assets, has officially launched cryptocurrency trading and custody services for institutional clients. This comes after nearly two years of development and follows regulatory approval from Germany’s financial watchdog, BaFin. The bank now operates under the oversight of the European Central Bank (ECB), reinforcing its commitment to secure and compliant digital asset services.

U.S. Crypto Growth Fuels Global Interest

In 2025, the global financial sector is seeing a stronger shift toward crypto, with the U.S. leading the way. Since President Donald Trump’s election, the country has overhauled its crypto regulations, encouraging financial institutions worldwide to explore digital assets.

“We have the necessary experience, required licenses and a tested, ready-to-use infrastructure to support savings banks and our institutional clients,” noted Martin K. Müller, a board member of DekaBank.

As the asset manager for Germany’s largest financial group, Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe, DekaBank is marketing its new crypto services as secure and fully compliant with regulations.

German Banks Expand Crypto Offerings

Germany’s banking sector is increasingly embracing crypto. Landesbank Baden-Württemberg (LBBW) has partnered with Bitpanda to allow corporate clients to trade digital assets.

Meanwhile, Germany’s cooperative banks, led by DZ Bank, plan to introduce crypto services for private customers by mid-year. This initiative, developed alongside IT service provider Atruvia and the Stuttgart Stock Exchange, highlights the country’s growing role in the crypto economy.