ING Deutschland, Germany’s largest retail bank, now allows customers to buy crypto products that track Bitcoin Ether and Solana Directly from their bank-linked securities account.
The products are genuine cryptocurrency-backed exchange-traded products issued by heavyweights such as 21Shares, Bitwise and VanEck, the bank’s website says, adding that these alternative investment vehicles mirror coin movements and are traded on legitimate exchanges through the bank’s Direct Depot setup. The Depot is a securities account provided by ING-DiBa that allows users to trade stocks, ETFs and funds, and is designed for online independent investors.
The website describes these crypto ETFs as simple on-ramps that plug directly into your daily banking while bypassing the hassle of using a wallet or keys.
The new product highlights growing demand for the digital asset, with ordinary investors looking past Bitcoin’s wild price swings to make long-term bets. Deutsche Bank research shows that German retail cryptocurrency adoption will reach 9% by 2025, lagging behind the United States’ 12%
Martijn Rozemuller, CEO of VanEck Europe, said that the cooperation with ING Deutschland provides low-threshold access opportunities for cryptocurrency investment.
According to a translated version of the press release, he said: “Many investors want a solution that fits into existing warehouse structures while being convincing at a transparent cost. That’s exactly what this partnership represents – it brings cryptocurrency risk where investors already invest: into their securities accounts.”
Note that these crypto products enjoy the same tax breaks in Germany as directly owning Bitcoin: if held for more than a year, gains are exempt from capital gains tax.
