Trade Republic: Cryptocurrency Finally Enters Everyday Banking

A Comprehensive Crypto Offering

Trade Republic customers can now send and receive nearly 50 cryptocurrencies, a feature long absent from European neobanks. They can also stake their assets, particularly on Ethereum or Solana, to participate in transaction validation while earning network income. Rewards are displayed in real-time on the app, within an environment secured by MiCAR regulation and storage in BitGo Europe GmbH cold wallets, one of the market standards.

The real breakthrough, however, lies in its usage. With the integration of the wallet into the Trade Republic Card, customers can now pay directly in crypto, with transactions automatically converted into fiat currency. Each expenditure generates a 2% Crypto Saveback, credited as automatic savings, up to a monthly limit. This crypto cashback, unique in the regulated banking landscape, allows users to accumulate cryptocurrencies through their daily expenses.

For Christian Hecker, co-founder of Trade Republic, this development marks a historic shift: « Crypto is the first asset class where it's not the banks, but the people, leading the movement. » He also points out that major institutions—pension funds, large corporations—have started incorporating Bitcoin and Ethereum in their allocations, a sign of accelerated normalization.

Wealth Management Strategy

This launch is not happening in isolation. It complements an upgrade strategy undertaken over the past two years, with the successive addition of private equity and then fixed income products. The introduction of the Crypto Wallet marks the third new asset class offered, transforming the platform from a simple low-cost broker into a comprehensive pan-European wealth manager.

The integration of crypto within a regulated framework sends a strong signal to investors. It grants access to a previously complex world—external wallets, fragmented platforms, inconsistent security—within a familiar banking environment. By centralizing buying, selling, storage, staking, and payments, Trade Republic eliminates several technical barriers that hindered the adoption of cryptocurrencies by the broader wealth-oriented public.

This normalization comes with a crucial tax reminder: each crypto payment is considered a sale and may therefore incur capital gains tax. The app highlights this information, indicating that the integration of digital assets must be done within a clear and compliant framework. Trade Republic’s stated ambition is clear: to become the first European platform where investors can hold, manage, invest, and pay in crypto just as they would with stocks or bonds.

The launch of the Crypto Wallet represents a pivotal moment in the institutional adoption of digital assets. By bringing crypto into « everyday banking, » Trade Republic is no longer just following the trend: it is helping to lead it.