Germany’s largest retail bank, ING Deutschland, recently announced that its customers will now be able to purchase crypto exchange-traded products (ETPs) tracking leading cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH), and Solana (SOL) straight through their ING-DiBa Direct Depot securities accounts.
ETH, SOL purchase made easier for Germans
According to a recently published press release, leading German retail bank ING Deutschland will now allow its customers to buy crypto products tracking altcoins like ETH and SOL directly from their bank accounts.
The move makes it easier for German residents to get exposure to digital assets in a regulatory-compliant and convenient way. Per the bank’s website, the crypto ETPs are issued by the likes of 21Shares, BitWise, and VanEck.
The announcement adds that the crypto ETPs replicate the underlying cryptocurrency’s price and exchange hands on real exchanges through ING Deutschland’s Direct Depot setup. For the uninitiated, the Depot is ING-Diba’s securities account that allows users to trade stocks, ETFs, and other financial products.
Gaining exposure to digital assets through crypto ETPs offers certain advantages over directly buying cryptocurrencies. For example, less crypto-savvy people may find it easier to just hold the crypto ETPs instead of worrying about things like private keys when holding crypto directly in a wallet.
Rising access to crypto products
Asset management firms around the world are making it increasingly easier for retail investors to gain exposure to digital assets. This doesn’t come as a surprise, as the US has shown a complete turnaround in its stance toward digital assets over the past year – from one of hostility to embracement.
In December 2025, provider 21Shares launched XDC Network and SUI staking investment products on the SIX Swiss Exchange. Earlier this year, the firm also unveiled the JitoSOL ETP in Europe – specifically on the Euronext Amsterdam and Euronext Paris stock exchanges.
DeFi Technologies’ UK subsidiary, Valour, recently bagged a license in the UK to offer yield-bearing ETPs. These products allow investors to earn income through staking, lending, or liquidity provisions.
