Bit2Me highlights that this was achieved thanks to a favorable regulatory environment.
They claim that more services will be coming soon in Europe, considering that MiCA has already come into force.
Garanti BBVA Kripto, the Turkish subsidiary of the Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria Group (BBVA), has announced that it will begin offering cryptocurrency trading services to the general publicin collaboration with the Spanish exchange Bit2Me. The news was spread through a statement on the social network X.
Bit2Me will be the execution center for Garanti BBVA Kripto, responsible for settling clients’ cryptoasset purchase and sale orders. According to the Spanish exchange, this agreement marks a milestone in the adoption of cryptocurrencies in one of the most dynamic markets in the world.
Abel Peña, sales director of Bit2Me, told specialized media that This step marks the beginning of an expansion in the service offeringespecially now that the regulation of Cryptoasset Markets (MiCA) has already come into force throughout the European Union.
I believe that in 2025 we will see many banks throughout Europe offering cryptocurrency operations to their users… We are in very close contact with more than 50 financial institutions, among which banks from all over Europe and internationally stand out, and many will begin to launch services in the first quarter of 2025.
Abel Peña, sales director of Bit2Me.
Although Garanti BBVA Kripto had announced cryptoasset services since January 2024, it is important to note that these were initially offered in a pilot format and were not available to the general public.
Türkiye has established itself as one of the largest cryptocurrency markets in the world. According to the latest Global Adoption Index Chainalysisthe country is ranked number 11. This strong interest has attracted the attention of banking entities, such as BBVA, which is currently the second most important bank in Spain (only behind Banco Santander).
According to Peña, BBVA decided to expand its functions in the Turkish market due to a favorable regulatory environment. With the full implementation of MiCA (Marketplace for Crypto Assets) on December 30, financial institutions will now be able to receive approval from national regulators to offer their clients digital asset services such as BTC and ETH.
Likewise, the sales director of Bit2Me highlighted that many of these institutions are already aligned with the Spanish exchange and are waiting for the green light to launch their services in Europe. Furthermore, growing global support for cryptocurrencies, including the endorsement of US President-elect Donald Trump, has further boosted the banking sector’s interest in this emerging technology.
With a population that exceeds 85 million people, the alliance between Garanti BBVA Kripto and Bit2Me lays the foundation for the mass adoption of cryptocurrencies, leveraging the trust and credibility of a global banking leader, along with Bit2Me’s technological expertise.
Fragment of the statement issued by Bit2Me.
BBVA is not the only European bank to enter the world of cryptocurrencies. Deutsche Bank, Germany’s largest banking entity, has also shown its interest in this technology. Right now, the company is developing its own layer 2 solution for Ethereum, known as Project Dama 2, which is currently in pilot phase. This new layer, built using ZkSync technology, promises to improve transaction efficiency by significantly reducing gas costs and increasing processing speed.
