Raiffeisen will provide crypto trading services in 11 European markets through Bitpanda

อัปเดต (23 ก.ย. เวลา 14:20 น. UTC): This article has been updated by adding comments from RBI advertisers regarding the service launch plan since page six

Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI), an Austrian banking group with operations in Central and Eastern Europe, is expanding its footprint into the cryptocurrency space through a joint venture with Bitpanda.

According to a joint announcement on Wednesday, Bitpanda Enterprise will be the provider of digital asset infrastructure that RBI-owned banks can use to launch crypto services which could reach approximately 18 million customers. The two companies noted that each bank will determine its own service format and timing according to market and regulatory requirements in their respective countries.

Michael Höllerer, CEO of RBI said that the bank sees a growing demand for crypto assets in every market it operates and has reached out to Bitpanda to meet such needs.

"As a customer-centric bank, we are committed to meeting our customers' needs in the best way", he said.

This partnership builds on the crypto service connection launched with Raiffeisen Landesbank Niederösterreich-Vienna of Austria in 2024

The service is already available in Austria, and an RBI spokesperson told Cointelegraph that plans to expand the service globally will begin in Albania, the Czech Republic and Slovakia during the first half of 2027.

Bitpanda, which is licensed under the European Union's MiCA (Markets in crypto -Assets Regulation) regulation, told Cointelegraph that the company has regular discussions with various banks and financial institutions regarding crypto trading services but declined to comment on ongoing negotiations as confidential.

Related article: Banks increase number of registered crypto service providers under EU's MiCA ratio to 23%