Spanish banking giant BBVA has become the first major bank in Spain to introduce round-the-clock cryptocurrency trading for retail clients. The service, approved by Spain’s securities regulator CNMV, gives users access to Bitcoin and Ether directly through the BBVA mobile app. By extending availability to 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the bank aligns digital asset trading with the nonstop nature of global crypto markets.

The new service is designed to be seamless, operating on the same rails that BBVA uses for foreign exchange. This means customers can buy, sell, and manage Bitcoin and Ether in a familiar setting, without navigating external platforms. Initially, the rollout will reach a limited number of clients before expanding nationwide in the coming months.

BBVA, the country’s second-largest bank with nearly 70 million clients worldwide, emphasizes that this move is a milestone in Europe’s traditional finance sector. According to Gonzalo Rodríguez, head of retail banking at BBVA Spain, the goal is to simplify the process while ensuring security remains consistent with the standards of a Tier-1 institution. The bank will not offer advisory services, leaving investment decisions fully in the hands of customers.

Regulation, Partnerships, and Global Context

The launch is supported by Singapore-based SGX FX, whose infrastructure enables aggregation, pricing, and risk management for digital assets. SGX FX operates global data centers in New York, London, Tokyo, and Singapore, ensuring the trading system matches the reliability of established FX markets. This partnership allows BBVA to integrate digital assets into its existing framework without replacing core systems.

The initiative comes under the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation, which provides a common standard for offering crypto services across member states. BBVA is among the first banks in Europe to leverage MiCA to deliver regulated retail access to digital assets. Other European banks, such as Belgium’s KBC Bank and Deutsche Bank, have explored crypto solutions, but few have advanced to the stage of live retail trading.

In recent months, BBVA has also strengthened its digital asset capabilities through collaborations. It partnered with Binance for custody arrangements, holding client assets in U.S. Treasuries as collateral. The bank also teamed up with Ripple to integrate custody technology for managing client holdings. These partnerships show a broader effort to build compliant and secure digital asset services under a bank’s direct oversight.

Globally, BBVA’s step reflects a growing trend of bank-led crypto integration. For example, CME Group in the United States has announced plans to introduce 24/7 trading for its cryptocurrency futures and options markets in early 2026, pending regulatory approval. The move highlights rising demand for regulated institutions to match the nonstop rhythm of crypto markets, whether through retail offerings or institutional trading.

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A Turning Point for Bank-Led Crypto Access

The launch of BBVA 24/7 Bitcoin trading marks a significant shift in how traditional banks approach digital assets. By offering continuous access to Bitcoin and Ether within a regulated mobile platform, BBVA bridges the gap between conventional banking and crypto markets. The initiative positions the bank as an early mover in Europe while signaling the role traditional financial institutions may play in shaping the future of digital assets.

As client demand for seamless access to crypto continues to grow, BBVA’s approach illustrates how banks can integrate these services under established frameworks like MiCA. While initially limited in scope, the expansion of such services could set the tone for how other banks across Europe adopt digital asset trading in the years ahead.