BBVA Launches Bitcoin and Ethereum Trading for Retail Customers in Spain

Spanish banking giant BBVA now offers Bitcoin and Ethereum trading and custody services directly through its mobile app for retail customers in Spain. BBVA, one of Spain’s largest banks, has officially launched Bitcoin and Ether trading and custody services for retail customers through its mobile app. This latest move expands its regulated digital asset offerings across the European Union. The launch follows a regulatory filing with Spain’s National Securities Market Commission (CNMV) in March 2025. The new service is now available to all Spanish customers of legal age. It enables them to buy, sell, and store crypto assets directly within BBVA’s secure digital banking environment. Unlike many other banks that rely on external exchanges or third-party custodians, BBVA has fully integrated the crypto service into its existing app infrastructure. Customers can initiate crypto transactions independently, though the bank does not provide investment advice on these assets . BBVA Executive Reacts Gonzalo Rodríguez, Head of Retail Banking for Spain, explained that BBVA aims to simplify access to crypto for everyday users: “Our goal is to give our retail clients in Spain a straightforward and convenient way to invest in digital currencies directly from their phones.” The offering aligns with the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation, which establishes standardized legal requirements for crypto services across EU member states. Building on Earlier Momentum BBVA previously rolled out similar crypto trading and custody services for private banking clients in Switzerland in 2021 and later expanded to Turkey in 2023 through its subsidiary Garanti BBVA. The Spanish launch marks the bank’s third market for digital assets, but it is the first time BBVA is targeting retail customers directly in its home market. Francisco Maroto, Head of Digital Assets at BBVA, explained that with Spain now joining the bank’s digital assets lineup, BBVA is building on the success it has had in Switzerland and Turkey. He said the bank plans to continue expanding its crypto and tokenized offerings by adding new digital assets such as stablecoins, as well as tokenized versions of traditional investments like bonds and funds, aiming to deliver innovative solutions for its clients. For safeguarding customer assets, BBVA uses its proprietary custody infrastructure. The bank says this gives it complete control over security. It has also indicated plans to introduce additional crypto-assets and tokenized investment products in future updates to the service.