Top Spanish Bank Launches Bitcoin and Ethereum Trading Services

BBVA has made a significant move into the cryptocurrency space, gaining approval from Spain's securities regulator, CNMV, to offer Bitcoin and Ether trading.

This new service will allow the bank’s customers to manage these digital assets directly via its mobile platform. With a focus on security, BBVA will oversee all transactions and holdings through its own cryptographic key custody system, avoiding reliance on external parties.

Initially, the service will be limited to a select group of users, gradually expanding to the broader public in Spain over the next few months. This latest offering follows BBVA’s expanding crypto presence, which began in Switzerland with Bitcoin trading services for private clients in 2021.

The Swiss arm of the bank has since added Ethereum and USDC stablecoin to its offerings, and its Turkish subsidiary, Garanti BBVA Kripto, launched public crypto services in early 2025.

BBVA’s entry into Spain’s crypto market comes at a time when European regulations are rapidly evolving. The full implementation of the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) in late 2024 has prompted both traditional finance institutions and crypto-native companies to secure the necessary licenses.

Several well-known firms, such as Standard Chartered and Boerse Stuttgart Digital Custody, have already received MiCA approvals, while prominent exchanges like Crypto.com and OKX are also aligning with the new regulatory framework. As the deadline for full compliance in 2026 approaches, the pace of adoption is accelerating.