- Trending
- Comments
- Latest
ING Deutschland has begun offering Bitcoin, Ethereum and Solana ETNs to retail customers through its brokerage platform, making it one of the first major European banks to integrate regulated crypto exposure directly into traditional securities accounts.
This move positions ING among the first mainstream European banks to embed crypto exposure directly into traditional brokerage accounts, allowing investors to trade and hold ETNs alongside other securities.
These instruments, which track the performance of their underlying cryptocurrency, are physically backed and issued by established providers including 21Shares, Bitwise and VanEck.
“This creates another particularly low-threshold access to crypto investments via exchange-traded products.” Martijn Rozemuller, Chief Executive of VanEck Europe, said.
Cryptocurrency ETNs are structured to behave like traditional securities, trading on regulated exchanges and reporting within established tax and custody regimes.
ING’s Direct Depot service enables clients to buy, sell and hold these ETNs without the need for third-party wallets or digital-asset custodians.
Under current German tax rules, gains from these products may qualify for capital gains exemptions if held for more than one year, a treatment similar to direct cryptocurrency ownership.
Despite the ease of access, ING has emphasized that these products are not without risk.
In official disclosures, the bank warned of extreme price volatility, issuer solvency risk, liquidity constraints, potential market manipulation and regulatory uncertainty.
“Cryptocurrency remain speculative assets whose prices are heavily influenced by market psychology.”
ING wrote on an investor education page, reflecting the bank’s cautious stance even as it broadens access.
ING’s initiative comes amid broader shifts in Europe’s crypto regulatory environment.
The Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA), which aims to standardize licensing, oversight and reserve requirements for digital asset products across the EU.
It has paved the way for banks and financial institutions to offer regulated crypto vehicles such as ETNs and stablecoins with clearer legal frameworks.
The bank also recently joined a consortium of European institutions exploring a euro-denominated stablecoin, although details remain in early stages pending regulatory approvals.
Industry analysts see ING’s decision as part of a larger trend of traditional financial institutions cautiously integrating digital assets into their product suites.
However, regulators and consumer advocates continue to stress that while the infrastructure for access is improving, investor education and risk disclosure remain critical.
The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has repeatedly highlighted the need for clear communication on volatility and investor protection in crypto-linked products.
ING’s move highlights institutional validation of digital assets as part of mainstream investment portfolios, even if not direct token ownership.
By embedding ETN access within a traditional banking environment, retail clients gain regulated options previously limited to professional or institutional investors.
Yet the initiative also raises questions about how far traditional banks will go in embracing decentralized digital assets versus controlled, compliant financial products.
As European regulators refine MiCA implementation and banks expand their offerings, the balance between accessibility and investor protection will shape the next phase of retail crypto adoption.
