BBVA now offers Bitcoin and Ethereum trading and custody for retail users via its mobile app in Spain, fully compliant with MiCA regulation.
Author: Tanishq Bodh
Written On: Mon, 07 Jul 2025 15:57:00 GMT
July 7, 2025 – BBVA, Spain’s second-largest banking group, has officially launched Bitcoin and Ethereum trading and custody services for retail customers in its home market. The offering is now live via the bank’s mobile app and enables users to buy, sell, and hold crypto assets directly within their existing digital banking experience.
The move follows regulatory approval from the National Securities Market Commission (CNMV), obtained in March 2025. This makes BBVA one of the first traditional banks in Europe to provide fully integrated crypto services to its retail client base, aligning with the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation.
The launch allows all Spanish customers of legal age to manage crypto independently without needing to rely on external platforms or third-party custodians. BBVA clarified that the service will not include financial advice and is designed to be self-directed.
According to Gonzalo Rodríguez, Head of Retail Banking for Spain, the new offering is meant to make digital asset exposure more accessible and secure for everyday users.
“Our goal is to support them as they explore digital assets, backed by the strength and security of a bank like BBVA,” Rodríguez said.
The app-based service is built internally and uses BBVA’s infrastructure, eliminating the need for external intermediaries. Customers can monitor prices, execute trades, and store assets—all from the same platform used for their traditional banking needs.
BBVA first entered the crypto space in 2021 by launching trading and custody services in Switzerland. In 2023, it expanded the offering to private banking clients in Turkey. Spain is now the third country where BBVA is launching digital asset services—and the first time it’s targeting retail users in its core European market.
Francisco Maroto, BBVA’s Head of Digital Assets, emphasized the bank’s continued push for digital innovation:
“Following this launch in Spain, BBVA has added another country to its digital assets service, which was first introduced in Switzerland in 2021, followed by Turkey in 2023.”
He added that the bank is not just focused on cryptocurrencies, but is also expanding into tokenized traditional assets like bonds and funds, and stablecoins including USDC, which it recently introduced in Switzerland for institutional clients.
BBVA’s new crypto services align with MiCA, the European Union’s comprehensive regulatory framework for digital assets that became effective in December 2024. This ensures BBVA can operate across the EU with clear legal standards for custody, trading, and client protection.
Earlier in 2025, BBVA also revealed plans to integrate Bit2Me as a trading execution partner and to scale services via its Garanti BBVA Kripto platform, aimed at the wider EU market.
The bank’s strategy reflects growing institutional interest in regulated digital assets, offering a blend of crypto-native functionality with traditional financial safeguards.
BBVA stands for Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria and was originally formed through the merger of several regional Spanish banks. It now operates in over 30 countries and serves more than 80 million customers globally.
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