Bunq Makes History as Europe’s First Neobank to Offer Flexible Crypto Staking in 2025

• What Exactly Is bunq's Flexible Staking Offering?
• How Does the 8.25% APY Stack Up Against Competitors?
• Why This Matters for European Crypto Adoption
• The Kraken Partnership: More Than Meets the Eye
• What's Next? The American Dream
• Frequently Asked Questions

In a groundbreaking move that's shaking up the European fintech space, Dutch neobank bunq has just launched flexible crypto staking - becoming the first digital bank on the continent to eliminate lock-up periods for cryptocurrency investors. This innovation comes at a crucial time when Ethereum validators face 40-day withdrawal queues, offering users unprecedented liquidity while earning up to 8.25% APY. Let's dive into what makes this offering special and how it positions bunq against traditional crypto platforms.

What Exactly Is bunq's Flexible Staking Offering?

Unlike traditional staking that requires locking up assets for fixed periods (anyone who's dealt with Ethereum's validation queue knows the pain), bunq's new product through its bunq crypto platform allows users to stake and unstake at will. "We're giving Europeans what they've wanted since the Merge - yield without handcuffs," a bunq spokesperson told me when I pressed for details. The service, powered by Kraken's infrastructure, currently supports multiple proof-of-stake assets across 8 European markets.

How Does the 8.25% APY Stack Up Against Competitors?

According to CoinMarketCap data from September 2025, bunq's top yield edges out most centralized exchanges (CEX) for comparable assets. Here's the kicker - while platforms like BTCC might offer slightly higher rates, they typically require 90-180 day lock-ups. "It's the liquidity premium that changes everything," noted fintech analyst Marco van der Berg in his latest TradingView update. The yield breakdown shows:

• ETH staking: 6.8% (vs 5.5% industry average for liquid staking)
• SOL staking: 8.25% (market-leading for flexible terms)
• DOT staking: 7.1% (with instant redemption)

Why This Matters for European Crypto Adoption

Having covered neobanks since the Revolut days, I've seen countless "crypto integrations" that were basically glorified price trackers. bunq's MOVE is different - it bridges the regulatory comfort of licensed banking with DeFi's yield potential. My Dutch colleague Piet, who beta-tested the product, joked: "Finally, my grandma can stake without calling me to ask when her coins will be 'unfrozen'." The banking license allows features like instant EUR conversions that pure crypto platforms can't match.

The Kraken Partnership: More Than Meets the Eye

This isn't just another white-label deal. Kraken's institutional-grade security combines with bunq's slick mobile UX - a pairing that could redefine how normies interact with staking. Remember when Kraken settled with the SEC back in 2023? That regulatory clarity now pays dividends (literally) in this compliant framework. Industry insiders suggest we'll see similar bank-exchange collabs if this proves successful.

What's Next? The American Dream

While currently limited to EEA countries, bunq dropped a bombshell in their press release - they've applied for a U.S. broker license. If approved, Americans might soon access this product too. Though given the SEC's current stance, I wouldn't hold my breath for a 2025 launch stateside. The filing does show bunq's ambition to become the first truly global crypto-neobank hybrid.