European investors are starting to weigh crypto offerings when choosing banks, even as regulatory gaps and low awareness continue to slow adoption.
Summary
- 35% of European investors said they would consider switching banks for better cryptocurrency investment services, showing growing influence on banking choices.
- 76% of respondents pointed to weak regulation, and over 60% said they lack sufficient knowledge, highlighting key barriers to wider adoption.
- Nearly half of investors said the EU’s MiCA framework improved trust in digital assets, while institutional surveys show rising demand for stablecoins and tokenization services.
A Börse Stuttgart Digital survey found that 35% of investors across Germany, Italy, Spain, and France would consider switching banks if a competitor offered better cryptocurrency investment services, pointing to a growing role for digital assets in banking relationships.
The study covered around 6,000 respondents and shows that crypto is no longer seen as a niche add-on for a segment of investors.
Demand for access appears to be building steadily. Nearly 20% of respondents said they expect their primary bank to provide crypto services within the next three years. Among all participants, 25% have already invested in digital assets, while 36% said they are likely to invest again within the next five years.
Regulatory uncertainty and lack of understanding remain the main obstacles. About 76% of respondents said crypto assets are still not sufficiently regulated, while more than 60% admitted they do not feel well-informed about the sector.
Confidence, however, has started to improve following the rollout of the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation. The framework came fully into force for crypto asset service providers on Dec. 30, 2024, introducing a unified rulebook across the European Union.
Nearly half of the surveyed investors said the regulation has made digital assets feel safer and more accessible.
“Trust and clear regulation are essential for the next phase of crypto adoption in Europe. With MiCAR bringing transparency and legal certainty, investors gain the clarity they expect,” said Matthias Voelkel.
The regulatory push is also shaping institutional activity. Börse Stuttgart Digital said earlier in 2025 that it became the first German crypto service provider to secure an EU-wide MiCA license through its custody unit, allowing it to offer regulated infrastructure to banks, brokers, and asset managers.
Spain leads retail adoption while institutions build infrastructure
Spain recorded the highest adoption among the surveyed markets, with nearly 28% of investors already holding crypto. Germany followed at 25%, with Italy at 24% and France at 23%.
Separate industry data points to continued growth in transaction volumes across the region. A Chainalysis report showed Russia leading Europe with $376 billion in crypto value received between July 2024 and June 2025, followed by the United Kingdom at $273 billion and Germany at $219 billion.
Institutional sentiment is also moving in the same direction. A 2026 survey by Ripple found that 72% of finance leaders believe firms need to offer digital asset services to remain competitive, suggesting banks may face pressure to expand crypto offerings.
Around 74% of respondents in Ripple’s survey said stablecoins can improve cash flow efficiency and unlock working capital, showing how use cases are extending beyond payments into treasury management.
Attention is also turning to infrastructure. Among banks and asset managers exploring tokenization, 89% identified custody and secure storage as a priority, while token lifecycle management and distribution ranked close behind. Security standards such as ISO and SOC II certifications were viewed as critical by 97% of respondents, underscoring the importance of trusted service providers.
“Most finance leaders aren’t debating digital assets anymore. They’re figuring out how to build with them and who to build with,” Ripple said.
