Raiffeisen Expands Crypto Services Through Partnership with Bitpanda

Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) announced on September 23 a partnership with Bitpanda Enterprise to provide access to crypto trading in 11 European countries. The collaboration potentially covers about 18 million clients. Bitpanda Enterprise will provide the digital asset infrastructure, and each bank in the RBI network will independently determine the product set and launch timelines based on the local market and regulations – there will be no simultaneous start, the process will be phased. Clients will not need a separate app or a new account: digital assets will become part of the familiar banking service.

RBI CEO Michael Hellerer noted the growing demand for crypto assets in the regions where the bank operates. “As a customer-oriented bank, we strive to meet the needs of our clients in the best possible way,” he stated. A Bitpanda representative mentioned that the implementation process is at an early stage and will proceed gradually, taking into account local market and regulatory requirements; details will be disclosed as approvals are obtained in individual countries.

The partnership builds on the integration of crypto services with Raiffeisenlandesbank Niederösterreich-Wien, launched in 2024. In June, Raiffeisen Landesbank Tirol also connected to the same infrastructure. Bitpanda is authorized under the EU Regulation on Crypto-Assets (MiCA) and regularly engages in discussions with banks and financial institutions about brokerage crypto services, without commenting on specific deals. The RBI group comprises about 42,000 employees and approximately 1,300 branches, mainly in Central and Eastern Europe.

The deal coincided with a change in RBI leadership: Michael Hellerer recently took over as CEO and plans to present the group's medium- and long-term strategy at the end of September. The agreement expands a model already tested in Austria, where Raiffeisen clients gain access to digital assets through a familiar banking environment. Bitpanda Enterprise's partnerships with traditional banks are expanding: among them are Deutsche Bank (from 2024 – local IBAN and real-time payments, preparation of BTC and ETH custodian), BW-Bank, and IG Europe.