According to a new study by Boerse Stuttgart Digital, a significant portion of European investors may switch banks to access better cryptocurrency services, indicating a shift in the role of digital assets in retail finance across the region. The study, conducted by Marketagent between August 2025 and January 2026, gathered responses from 6,000 individuals in Germany, Italy, Spain, and France, and found that 35% of respondents would consider changing banks if another institution offered more robust crypto investment options.
This figure is highest in Spain at 40%, followed by Italy at 35%, France at 33%, and Germany at 29%. Despite the complexity and perceived risks of cryptocurrency, with over 60% of respondents feeling poorly informed and 69% describing it as too complex, and 76% viewing it as insufficiently regulated, investors are more likely to trust their primary bank for crypto services than specialized platforms. The study suggests that banks have an opportunity to capitalize on this trust, with nearly one in five respondents expecting their bank to offer crypto access within the next three years. The expansion of crypto access in Europe, though uneven, is being shaped by regulation, including the European Union's Markets in Crypto-Assets framework, which aims to create a more consistent market and reduce risks tied to unregulated activity.
Clearer regulation, such as the EU's MiCA, may increase trust in digital assets, with nearly half of respondents indicating that such rules increase their trust in digital assets.