ING Opens Door to Crypto, Offering Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana ETPs to Retail Clients

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ING Deutschland has launched a significant initiative to provide retail banking customers with access to cryptocurrency-linked exchange-traded products (ETPs). The move allows clients to gain regulated exposure to Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana through the bank’s existing investment platform.

The offering features physically backed exchange-traded notes (ETNs) from established issuers like 21Shares, Bitwise, and VanEck. These products, which track the performance of individual cryptocurrencies, are traded on regulated exchanges and are now available through ING’s Direct Depot securities account.

A core aim of the initiative is to simplify entry into crypto investing by leveraging familiar banking infrastructure. ING emphasizes that this approach eliminates the need for customers to navigate external cryptocurrency exchanges or manage private keys and digital wallets.

“This creates another particularly low-threshold access to crypto investments via exchange-traded products,” stated Martijn Rozemuller, CEO of VanEck Europe. “Many investors want a solution that fits into existing depot structures and at the same time convinces with transparent costs. That’s exactly what this partnership stands for — it brings crypto exposure to where investors are already investing: in their securities depot.”

ING also clarified the tax implications for German investors, noting that holdings in these crypto ETNs will be treated similarly to direct cryptocurrency ownership. This includes the potential for capital gains tax exemptions on profits from assets held for more than one year.