Garanti BBVA partners with Bit2Me to introduce cryptocurrency trading services, advancing digital asset integration.
Turkey’s relaxed crypto regulations play a vital role in enabling this financial innovation.
The move is expected to inspire similar crypto-adoption initiatives across European banks in 2025.
Garanti BBVA Kripto, an associate of Garanti BBVA, Turkey's fifth-largest bank, has revealed plans to debut digital asset trading services in an X post by Crypto India. This development represents a rise in the use of digital assets within traditional banking systems in Europe. Partnering with Bit2Me, a Spanish crypto exchange, the plan emphasizes a growing trend of European financial institutions engaging in the crypto space.
The new service will enable public access to cryptocurrency trading, highlighting a key step for Garanti BBVA in expanding its financial offerings. This cooperation with Bit2Me aligns with a wider movement among European banks to explore digital asset capabilities. The collaboration mirrors an increasing willingness among traditional banks to include cryptocurrency solutions, paving the way for broader market use.
Garanti BBVA’s largest owner, Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA), holds an 86% stake in the Turkish bank. BBVA played a key role in supporting this project, reflecting the parent company’s interest in digital asset innovation.
Turkey’s regulatory space has contributed enormously to this initiative. With a relatively relaxed approach toward cryptocurrency regulation, Turkey offers a favorable environment for such developments. Experts point to this regulatory flexibility as a key factor enabling the launch of these services.
The introduction of Garanti BBVA Kripto’s trading services is anticipated to influence the European banking sector. Abel Pena, head of sales at Bit2Me, noted that other European banks are predicted to embrace identical crypto trading endeavors in the coming months. This marks a change in the banking industry’s approach, with a growing number of institutions exploring digital asset offerings.
Garanti BBVA Kripto’s alliance with Bit2Me represents a step in integrating digital assets trading into traditional banking. This development reflects Turkey’s supportive environment in regulations and BBVA’s commitment to digital innovation. The ambition is expected to inspire similar projects across Europe, likely accelerating digital asset use within the region’s banking sector.