ING Deutschland, Germany’s largest retail bank, has expanded its investment offering to include crypto-linked products tied to bitcoin, ether and solana, enabling customers to purchase them directly through their bank-connected securities accounts.
According to the bank’s website, the products are physically backed exchange-traded products issued by established providers such as 21Shares, Bitwise and VanEck. The instruments track the price movements of the underlying cryptocurrencies and trade on regulated exchanges via ING’s Direct Depot platform, the lender’s self-directed brokerage service for stocks, ETFs and funds.
The bank is positioning the crypto ETPs as a straightforward gateway into digital assets, allowing investors to gain exposure within their existing banking and investment setup while avoiding the operational hurdles of managing wallets and private keys.
The rollout comes as retail interest in crypto continues to grow despite sharp price swings. Research from Deutsche Bank shows that crypto adoption among German retail investors reached 9% in 2025, compared with 12% in the United States, suggesting room for further expansion.
Martijn Rozemuller, chief executive of VanEck Europe, said the partnership with ING lowers barriers to crypto investing by embedding it into familiar investment infrastructure.
“Many investors are looking for solutions that fit into existing depot structures while offering transparent costs,” Rozemuller said in a translated statement. “This cooperation brings crypto exposure to where investors already invest — in their securities accounts.”
Notably, the products receive the same tax treatment in Germany as directly held bitcoin. Investors who hold the ETPs for more than one year are exempt from capital gains tax, enhancing their appeal for long-term investors.
