YEREVAN (CoinChapter.com) — BBVA, one of Spain’s largest banks, has received approval from the country’s financial regulator to offer Bitcoin trading and Ethereum trading to its clients. This decision follows the implementation of the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation across the European Union (EU), setting a legal framework for cryptocurrency services.
The approval concludes a process that began in 2020, when BBVA started exploring crypto services. The bank initially launched Bitcoin trading and Ethereum trading in Switzerland, where the Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) had already established a clear digital assets regulatory framework.
BBVA’s Crypto Services Started in Switzerland
BBVA first introduced crypto services through its Swiss subsidiary in 2020. Switzerland had an established digital assets regulatory system, making it an attractive starting point for the bank’s cryptocurrency operations. The decision allowed BBVA to test its Bitcoin trading and Ethereum trading services under a clear legal structure.
In January 2025, BBVA expanded its crypto services to Türkiye, offering Bitcoin trading and Ethereum trading through a local subsidiary. This move positioned BBVA as one of the first major banks to provide regulated cryptocurrency services in the country.
With the MiCA regulation now in effect, BBVA has obtained official approval to extend its crypto services to Spain, allowing clients access to Bitcoin trading and Ethereum trading within a regulated framework.
European Banks Increasing Crypto Services
BBVA is not the only European bank offering crypto services. Other major banks have also expanded their digital assets operations:
- Deutsche Bank (Germany) is developing an Ethereum rollup with ZKsync and provides crypto custody through Taurus.
- Société Générale’s SG-FORGE (France) launched a euro stablecoin on the XRP Ledger to facilitate blockchain-based transactions.
These developments indicate a growing interest among European banks in providing crypto services under the new MiCA regulation.
MiCA Regulation Expands Crypto Banking in Europe
With MiCA regulation now fully implemented, more banks in Spain and across the European Union are expected to enter the crypto services sector. The regulatory framework provides clear guidelines for Bitcoin trading and Ethereum trading, encouraging more financial institutions to integrate cryptocurrency services into their offerings.
BBVA’s approval allows its clients to trade Bitcoin and Ethereum under Spain’s new regulatory structure. As more banks in Europe follow similar steps, crypto services could become more widely available within traditional financial systems.
