BBVA Shakes Up Spanish Finance: Retail Crypto Trading & Custody Goes Live

Traditional finance just got a crypto wake-up call—BBVA rolls out the red carpet for Spanish retail investors.

No more sidelining the little guy: Spain's second-largest bank now lets everyday customers trade and store Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other major cryptocurrencies through their existing accounts. Take that, legacy brokers still pretending blockchain doesn't exist.

The custody play matters: While neobanks flirted with crypto payments, BBVA's vault-like security (originally built for institutional clients) gives retail users enterprise-grade protection. Finally—a bridge between crypto's Wild West and regulated banking.

Timing is everything: Launch comes as Spain's CNMV tightens DeFi regulations, forcing speculators back toward licensed players. How convenient for the banking giant that spent years lobbying for stricter rules.

One cynical footnote: Nothing unites old-money banks and crypto bros faster than the smell of retail trading fees.

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA), a multinational  Spanish bank, recently launched crypto trading (Bitcoin and Ether) and custody services for retail customers. Spanish customers can now use this service to buy, sell, and hold crypto assets directly through the BBVA app. The step is part of a broader strategy of BBVA to enable a seamless digital experience. 

BBVA Enables Crypto Trading for Retail Customers

With BBVA’s new initiative for custodian services crypto trading, retail customers in Spain can now utilize the crypto services through its mobile app. BBVA has aligned the initiative with the EU’s Market in Crypto Assets (MiCA) to govern the regulations and provide investors’ protection. 

However, it is important to note that the bank will not offer advice on these assets; the clients will be the only ones responsible for their initiative. 

Head of Retail Banking for Spain, Gonzalo Rodriguez, stated–

“We want to make it easier for our retail customers in Spain to invest in crypto-assets, through a simple and easy-to-access digital solution on their cell phone. Our goal is to support them as they explore digital assets, backed by the strength and security of a bank like BBVA.” 

BBVA Expands Its Range in Digital Assets 

BBVA first introduced its digital assets service in Switzerland in 2021, followed by Turkey in 2023. Now, with crypto trading and custodian services in Spain in 2025, BBVA appears to expand its range in digital assets. 

The BBVA Head of Blockchain and Digital Assets, Francisco Maroto, emphasized the continued growth of the bank in digital assets. He said that BBVA is evolving with new assets—  crypto and stablecoin, and traditional assets— tokenized bonds and funds. 

Crypto Evolution in Spain 

Driven by the growing demand for crypto in Spain, the government has introduced regulatory developments to strengthen safety measures and expand crypto adoption. Moreover, Spanish banks are also playing a crucial role in evolving digital assets in the country to attract new investors. BBVA is not the only entity to offer these digital asset services, as Banco Santander and Caixabank are exploring enabling crypto services. 

The National Commission for the Promotion of Digital Investments indicated that more than eight financial institutions have applied for the VIRTUAL assets service providers registry; which the agency is yet to approve.