More than a third of European investors say they would consider switching banks if another institution offered better cryptocurrency investment options, according to a large-scale survey published by Boerse Stuttgart Digital this month.
The study, conducted by research firm Marketagent, gathered 6,051 online responses from investors aged 18 to 70 across Germany, Italy, Spain and France between August 2025 and January 2026. The headline finding: 35% of respondents could imagine changing their bank for better crypto access.
The willingness to switch was not evenly distributed. Spain led at 40%, followed by Italy at 35%, France at 33% and Germany at 29%. The gap suggests that markets with less established crypto infrastructure may feel stronger pressure for banks to act.
One in Four European Investors Already Holds Crypto
Key Takeaways
- 35% of European investors surveyed would consider switching banks for better crypto services.
- 25% already hold crypto, with Spain showing the highest adoption at nearly 28%.
- 76% believe crypto is insufficiently regulated, yet nearly half said EU rules increase their trust.
The survey found that 25% of respondents had already invested in digital assets. Spain again topped the list at nearly 28%, followed by Germany at 25%, Italy at 24% and France at 23%.
Beyond current holders, nearly one in five investors said they expect their main bank to offer crypto access within three years. Germany led that expectation at 22%, with Spain at 19%, Italy at 18% and France at 16%.
These figures land at a time when DeFi protocols are navigating security challenges and institutional products like spot crypto ETFs are attracting significant capital, both signals that digital asset services are moving closer to mainstream finance.
Trust Gap: Investors Want Banks, Not Just Crypto Platforms
The survey revealed a notable trust dynamic. Investors were more than twice as likely to trust their main bank for crypto trading as they were to trust specialized crypto platforms. In France, that bank-trust figure reached 46%.
That preference matters because the same respondents flagged significant barriers. Over 60% said they feel poorly informed about digital assets. Meanwhile, 76% believe crypto is insufficiently regulated, and 69% find it too complex.
The combination of high trust in banks and low confidence in crypto’s current state creates a clear opening. Investors are not asking for unregulated access to volatile tokens; they want familiar, compliant institutions to bridge the gap. This is the kind of shift that could reshape how traditional banks approach digital assets, much as large-scale institutional moves in Ethereum have signaled growing confidence in the underlying infrastructure.
Dr. Matthias Voelkel, CEO of Boerse Stuttgart Digital, reinforced this point, noting that trust and clear regulation are essential for the next phase of crypto adoption in Europe.
“Trust and clear regulation are essential for the next phase of crypto adoption in Europe.”
— Dr. Matthias Voelkel, CEO, Boerse Stuttgart Digital
MiCA Sets the Stage for Bank-Led Crypto Competition
The survey arrives months after the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets regulation took effect. ESMA confirmed that the MiCA regime for crypto-asset service providers entered into force on December 30, 2024, establishing a unified licensing framework across member states.
Boerse Stuttgart Digital itself became the first German provider to receive an EU-wide MiCAR license in February 2025, positioning it as an early mover in the regulated infrastructure space.
For traditional banks, the 35% switching figure represents both a retention risk and an acquisition opportunity. Banks that integrate regulated crypto services could capture demand from competitors slow to adapt. Those that delay may find that a meaningful share of their investor base is already looking elsewhere.
The execution challenges remain real. Banks must navigate compliance costs, technology integration and the perception gap identified in the survey, where most investors still feel poorly informed. But the regulatory groundwork is now in place, and the demand signal from over 6,000 surveyed investors across four of Europe’s largest economies is difficult to dismiss.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Cryptocurrency and digital asset markets carry significant risk. Always do your own research before making decisions.
