According to a study by Boerse Stuttgart Digital, a significant proportion of European investors may opt to change banks in pursuit of better cryptocurrency services, marking a significant shift in the role of digital assets in shaping retail finance across the region. The study, which surveyed 6,000 individuals in Germany, Italy, Spain, and France between August 2025 and January 2026, found that 35% of respondents would consider switching banks if another institution offered more robust 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 it as insufficiently regulated, the study suggests that banks remain central to the next phase of cryptocurrency development. Investors were more than twice as likely to trust their primary bank for cryptocurrency services than specialized platforms. The findings indicate a potential opportunity for banks, with nearly one in five respondents expecting their bank to offer cryptocurrency access within the next three years, signaling a shift towards digital assets becoming a standard feature in retail finance. The European Union's Markets in Crypto-Assets framework, which is being implemented across member states, aims to create a more consistent market and reduce risks tied to unregulated activity, with nearly half of respondents stating that European Union rules increase their trust in digital assets.