According to CoinDesk, Germany's second-largest bank, DZ Bank, plans to launch a cryptocurrency trading pilot later this year. Board member Souad Benkredda revealed that the bank, which serves as the central institution for around 700 cooperative lenders, aims to list a variety of cryptocurrencies for customers who can invest without advice. Benkredda cited a study by the Genoverband, an auditing and consulting association for over 2,500 cooperative organizations, which found that every second bank wants to offer a similar solution for their customers.
The Frankfurt-based bank, with $627 billion in assets under management, introduced a cryptocurrency custody platform in November. This followed its announcement that it would use Metaco's technology solution to develop crypto-related services. DZ Bank's entry into bitcoin trading coincides with the growing global adoption of cryptocurrencies among institutions. Major players such as BlackRock and Fidelity had their spot exchange-traded fund (ETF) applications approved in the U.S. last month, opening the door for billions of dollars in trading volume.