Germany’s largest savings bank financial group, known as the Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe, have announced their plan to offer Bitcoin and other crypto trading services to private customers. The move comes after years of hesitation over digital assets risk and volatility.

“We should offer customers the opportunity to trade cryptocurrencies at the Sparkassen as well,” said Matthias Dießl, President of the Sparkassen, in an interview with Bloomberg that was translated into English.

According to the German Savings Banks and Giro Association (DSGV), the Sparkassen will provide reliable access to a regulated crypto offering through their mobile app, with technical support from DekaBank, the investment arm owned by the savings banks. The service will allow self-directed investors to trade cryptocurrencies and is expected to launch in the summer of 2026.

According to the report, DekaBank confirmed that the platform is currently under development and is expected to be made available within the next year. The goal is to allow Sparkassen clients to engage with Bitcoin and the crypto market in a secure and regulated environment.

Around three years ago, Sparkassen committees advised against offering Bitcoin and crypto trading for private customers, pointing to concerns like fraud, lack of investor protection, and the volatility of the market. However, market momentum and growing customer interest in Bitcoin have prompted a change.

“The Volks and Raiffeisenbanken, under the leadership of DZ Bank, plan to launch a crypto offering for private customers in the coming days,” stated the document, which was translated into English.