According to a study by Boerse Stuttgart Digital, a significant proportion of European investors may switch banks to access better cryptocurrency services, marking a shift in the role of digital assets in retail finance. The study, which surveyed 6,000 individuals across Germany, Italy, Spain, and France between August 2025 and January 2026, found that 35% of respondents would consider switching banks if another institution offered stronger cryptocurrency investment options, with this figure rising to 40% in Spain. Despite the perceived complexity of cryptocurrency, with over 60% of respondents feeling poorly informed and 69% describing it as too complex, and concerns around regulation, with 76% viewing cryptocurrency as insufficiently regulated and therefore risky, investors are more than twice as likely to trust their primary bank for cryptocurrency services than specialized platforms. The study suggests that banks have an opportunity to provide cryptocurrency services, with nearly one in five respondents expecting their bank to offer cryptocurrency access within the next three years.
The European Union's Markets in Crypto-Assets framework, which sets common rules for cryptocurrency service providers, may also play a role in increasing trust in digital assets, with nearly half of respondents saying that European Union rules increase their trust in digital assets.