Garanti BBVA, Turkey’s fifth-largest bank, is set to enhance its cryptocurrency services in 2025, following the European Union’s implementation of the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation. The bank’s crypto custody service, Garanti BBVA Kripto, will soon enable public crypto trading, marking a significant expansion in its digital asset offerings.
To facilitate this new trading service, Garanti BBVA Kripto has partnered with Bit2Me, a Spain-based cryptocurrency exchange. This collaboration will allow the bank to provide access to major crypto, including Bitcoin and Ether, to its customers. This move builds on the bank’s earlier initiatives in the crypto sector, where it tested digital currency trading with a limited user group earlier in 2023.
The MiCA regulation, effective from December 2024, brings essential legal clarity to the cryptocurrency market, enabling institutions like BBVA to navigate regulatory requirements more easily. This regulatory framework is crucial for banks looking to offer crypto services legally and securely.
BBVA’s commitment to the digital currency landscape is evident, particularly in Turkey, where the regulatory environment is more favorable. This strategy aligns with the bank’s goal of introducing crypto services in markets with progressive legal frameworks.
