ING Deutschland, the largest retail bank in Germany, now lets customers buy crypto-backed exchange-traded notes and products tracking Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and Solana (SOL) directly from their bank-linked securities accounts.
These are physically-backed instruments issued by established providers, including Bitwise, 21Shares, and VanEck, that can be accessed on regulated European exchanges via ING’s Direct Depot Service – a securities account for online and self-directed clients that allows them to trade stocks, ETFs, and funds.
The development underscores the growing demand for digital assets in Germany, as a January research report by Deutsche Bank showed retail crypto adoption hitting 9% in 2025, fourth highest in the European Union.
ING Offers Crypto Access to German Clients via Exchange-Traded Products
According to the bank’s website, integrating crypto exposure into a traditional brokerage setup would lower the entry barrier for retail investors. The setup removes the hassle of handling wallets or private keys, as the digital asset products are held alongside other securities in the customers’ existing portfolios.
ING noted that the ETNs fall under Germany’s tax framework for crypto investments and are subject to treatment similar to direct crypto holdings. The rules grant capital gains exemptions for positions held longer than one year.
At the same time, the bank warned that the products carry significant risks, citing extreme price volatility and the possibility of total loss in the event of issuer insolvency, liquidity challenges, market manipulation, and regulatory uncertainty. On a page educating investors on the nature of cryptocurrencies, ING called them speculative assets with “no intrinsic value” whose prices are strongly dependent on psychological effects.
Martin Rozemuller, CEO of VanEck Europe, said in a press release that the facility creates a “particularly low-threshold access” to crypto investments through ETPs.
“Many investors want a solution that fits into existing depot structures and at the same time convinces them with transparent costs. That’s exactly what this partnership stands for – it brings crypto exposure to where investors are already investing: in their securities depot,” he said.
The move reflects a broader trend among European financial institutions to integrate crypto-linked products into traditional investment accounts. Germany has emerged as one of the most advanced markets for crypto ETPs and ETNs on the continent, with the instruments traded on regulated exchanges such as Xetra.
ING Joins Bank Consortium Developing Euro-Pegged Stablecoin
Industry experts view ING’s decision as another step toward mainstream crypto adoption, given its large retail footprint in the country. The Dutch banking group with roots dating back to the 18th century has been venturing into digital assets in recent years.
In September, it joined Qivalis, a consortium of ten major European banks, to develop a euro-denominated stablecoin to enhance the bloc’s strategic autonomy in digital payments. The project, backed by ING, BNP Paribas, UniCredit, CaixaBank, Danske Bank, SEB, KBC, Raiffeisen Bank International, DekaBank, and Banca Sell, plans to launch the stablecoin in the second half of 2026, pending regulatory approval.
The group aims to establish the stablecoin as a “trusted European payment standard”. It is designed to be compliant with the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA), and will maintain constant 1:1 parity with the euro through reserves held in cash and high-quality liquid assets. Initial use cases will focus on crypto trading, low-cost cross-border settlements, and programmable payments for enterprises and financial institutions.
MiCA has increased interest among banks and fintechs towards stablecoins as it provides a clearer framework to issue compliant digital asset products. In April 2023, Société Générale, through its SG FORGE unit, became the first European bank to launch a euro-backed stablecoin.
