ING Deutschland has officially rolled out direct access to cryptocurrency exchange-traded products (ETPs) and exchange-traded notes (ETNs) for its 3.2 million brokerage clients, marking a significant step in the integration of digital assets into Germany’s traditional banking system.
Through their existing Direct Depot securities accounts, retail customers can now buy and sell regulated products tracking Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana without managing private keys or external wallets. The offering places crypto exposure alongside stocks, ETFs, and bonds within ING’s standard brokerage infrastructure.
Product Scope and Institutional Partners
The initial lineup includes ETPs and ETNs linked to Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and Solana (SOL). Some issuers in the program also provide exposure to XRP, Cardano, and diversified crypto index products.
To support the launch, ING has partnered with several established asset managers, including Bitwise, VanEck, 21Shares, WisdomTree, and iShares. These products are fully regulated and trade through ING’s existing brokerage framework, reinforcing the bank’s approach of offering crypto exposure within familiar investment rails.
Fees and Savings Plan Integration
ING has introduced a competitive fee structure to encourage adoption. Trades in Bitwise ETPs are executed with zero transaction fees for orders above €1,000, while smaller transactions incur a €3.90 commission.
In addition, investors can create automatic savings plans for eligible crypto products. These plans allow customers to invest regularly over time, often with no execution fees, positioning crypto exposure as part of long-term portfolio construction rather than short-term trading.
German Tax Treatment as a Key Advantage
A central feature of the rollout is its tax treatment under German law. These bank-linked crypto ETPs receive the same favorable conditions as direct cryptocurrency ownership:
- Capital gains are fully tax-exempt if the product is held for more than one year.
This provision significantly improves the risk-reward profile for long-term investors and differentiates Germany from many other jurisdictions where crypto-linked securities are taxed less favorably.
Market Implications
The launch follows the full implementation of the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework, which has provided regulatory clarity for banks to integrate digital assets into retail offerings.
With ING serving millions of brokerage clients, even modest adoption could have meaningful market impact. Analysts estimate that if just 5% of ING’s deposit base shifts toward these products, nearly €7 billion could be directed into crypto-linked instruments.
