Germany’s DZ Bank Gets MiCAR Approval to Offer Institutional Bitcoin, Cardano Trading

Germany’s DZ Bank has gotten approval under Europe’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation to offer crypto services. This would enable such institutions to be able to trade Bitcoin and Cardano through this bank.

DZ Bank Secures MiCAR Approval

The bank has just confirmed that it finally received the MiCAR license from Germany’s financial regulator, BaFin. This will allow it to operate its own crypto platform, meinKrypto.

The Bank developed the meinKrypto platform with Atruvia, IT service provider for Germany’s cooperative banking sector. It is designed to be a fully digital wallet right within the VR Banking app. This is aimed at self-directed clients rather than advisory-based investors.

First, the platform opens to the cooperatives’ central institutions. Then, each bank has to independently file a separate MiCAR notification with BaFin before crypto trading opens for retail customers. Once approved, users will have full capacity to purchase and sell digital assets without having to leave DZ Bank’s interface.

The initial list of major cryptocurrcencies that are supported in this platform includes Bitcoin, Cardano, Ethereum, as well as Litecoin. It is left at the discretion of each cooperative bank on whether it should operate this service or not.

More than a third of all Germany’s cooperative banks plan to add crypto services, according to a September 2025 study released by Genoverband.

Meanwhile, Germany has become the hotbed for crypto expansion in Europe. Major exchanges, such as OKX, have launched operations with their MiCA licenses, as it will facilitate them to offer passporting services throughout the European Economic Area.

Germany Fast-Tracks Crypto Adoption in Banking and Payments Sectors

Besides DZ Bank’s MiCAR, Germany has been developing its LC access through conventional banking systems as well as through fintech services.

Just last September, Openbank entered cryptocurrency trading for its customers in Germany. The service will allow clients to invest in, sell, or hold cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ether, Litecoin, Polygon, or Cardano.

Furthermore, crypto exchange Coinbase teamed up with “pay by bank” platform and Visa-owned open banking company, Tink, that allows for cryptocurrency payments by bank in the nation. It allows users, through this integration, to execute cryptocurrency transactions through bank accounts.

After DZ Bank, Deutsche Bank also announced its interest in crypto operations, starting from 2026. The bank is in partnership with Bitpanda’s tech arm on crypto custody services.