DZ BANK, the central institution of Germany's cooperative financial group, has received MiCAR approval from the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) in late December 2025 to operate its crypto platform “meinkrypto”. Developed with IT provider Atruvia, the platform is integrated into the VR banking app for primary cooperative banks, allowing retail customers to invest in digital assets.
Platform Details and Partners
At launch, the platform supports four cryptocurrencies: Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Litecoin (LTC) and Cardano (ADA). Custody services are provided by Boerse Stuttgart Digital, while trade execution is handled by EUWAX AG. Each cooperative bank must individually decide on rollout in its jurisdiction and obtain its own MiCAR notification from BaFin before offering the service to retail customers.
Regulatory Framework and Market Impact
The approval under the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR) provides a unified legal framework for crypto assets across the bloc. DZ Bank's approval is a significant milestone, as it enables over 700 cooperative banks in Germany to potentially offer crypto trading directly through the VR banking app. This builds on a prior partnership between Boerse Stuttgart Digital and DZ Bank, expanding access to crypto for traditional banking customers.
Next Steps and Outlook
While DZ Bank has secured the central license, each cooperative bank must complete its own notification process. Once implemented, retail customers of participating banks will be able to trade crypto fully digitally. Industry observers believe this move will accelerate the integration of crypto into traditional German banking and may encourage other institutions to follow suit under the MiCAR regime.