ING opens retail access to Bitcoin, Ethereum and Solana ETPs

ING Deutschland, one of Germany’s largest retail banks, has opened access to cryptocurrency exchange-traded products, allowing private investors to buy ETNs and ETPs linked to Bitcoin, Ethereum and Solana for the first time. The instruments trade on regulated exchanges and are available through the Direct Depot platform, making entry into the crypto ecosystem easier for traditional banking users.

According to the bank, the products are physically backed instruments from leading issuers including 21Shares, Bitwise and VanEck. They track the price of the underlying asset and do not require clients to store private keys or use external crypto wallets.

ING positions the new service as a way to lower the entry barrier for retail investors by enabling crypto exposure within a familiar banking environment. VanEck Europe noted that such solutions “place crypto investments where users already hold their securities,” while maintaining transparency and a clear fee structure.

The bank also emphasized that the tax treatment of these instruments is similar to that of direct cryptocurrency ownership: investors may qualify for capital gains tax exemption if they hold a position for more than one year.

However, ING warned clients about the significant risks of crypto assets, including “extreme volatility,” potential total loss of funds in the event of issuer insolvency, insufficient liquidity, the possibility of market manipulation and regulatory uncertainty. The bank further stressed that “cryptocurrencies have no intrinsic value, and their price depends on psychological factors,” a principle that applies equally to exchange-traded crypto products.

The rollout of crypto ETP access marks a new milestone for ING, which in recent years has expanded its involvement in digital assets. The bank previously joined a European consortium of nine banks working on a euro-denominated stablecoin aimed at becoming a “reliable European payment standard.”

With this launch, ING becomes one of the first major retail banks in Germany to offer direct access to exchange-traded instruments for Bitcoin, Ethereum and Solana, strengthening the role of traditional financial institutions in the crypto market.