Sparkassen crypto trading began for the first customers on October 19, 2026, bringing five cryptocurrencies into their banking app—but not direct control of the private keys. The service allows buying and selling through DekaBank, while transfers to personal hardware wallets are currently blocked.
Key takeaways
- Sparkassen’s app-based offering supports five cryptocurrencies.
- DekaBank holds the private keys, and withdrawals face restrictions.
- More than 230 institutions have expressed interest in joining.
- Trading costs €0.99 per order plus the bid-ask spread.
Sparkassen crypto trading comes with custody restrictions
Customers can trade Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Solana and Polygon through the service branded “Crypto powered by Deka.” DekaBank provides the offering and works with Börse Stuttgart on trading infrastructure.
Custody stays with DekaBank. Customers do not hold the private keys themselves, and the product page limits withdrawals to addresses belonging to certain approved crypto service providers.
Direct transfers to personal hardware wallets are not currently permitted. Customers can therefore buy and sell through their banking app, but cannot move those holdings directly into their own hardware-wallet custody.
Rollout targets more than 230 institutions
More than 230 Sparkassen—about two-thirds of the institutions—have signaled that they want to introduce the offering. Each Sparkasse decides its own starting date, according to DSGV executive board member Joachim Schmalzl.
The expansion of Sparkassen crypto trading is expected to add 30 to 40 institutions a month. Schmalzl said the aim is to connect a large share of interested Sparkassen during the first half of 2027.
Customers need no separate securities account. Each order costs €0.99 plus the bid-ask spread.
DSGV limits the service to self-directed adult customers
The DSGV classifies cryptocurrencies as highly speculative investments and warns customers about sharp price swings and the possibility of losing their entire investment. The offering excludes advisory services and is not intended for active promotion.
It targets adults who make their own investment decisions and understand the risks. DSGV spokesperson Stefan Marotzke described the intended audience in July as a small group of self-directed adults who deliberately invest in cryptocurrencies and usually know the risks involved.
Schmalzl identified customer demand and reliable European MiCA regulation as decisive factors in introducing the service. For long-term wealth-building, the group continues to recommend securities and savings plans.
Article produced with the assistance of artificial intelligence and reviewed by the editorial team.