BBVA Ignites Crypto Frenzy With Bitcoin and Ether Now Live for Millions in Spain
Banking giant Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) revealed last week that it has launched a cryptocurrency trading and custody service for retail customers in Spain. The new offering, fully integrated into the BBVA mobile app, allows users of legal age to access two of the largest cryptocurrencies. A company representative stated:
Right now, BBVA retail customers in Spain can buy, sell, and hold bitcoin and ether directly via the mobile app, as a further show of the bank’s firm commitment to offering a seamless, fully digital experience.
The functionality is strictly client-initiated, with no investment advice provided by the bank. This move aligns with emerging EU regulations. BBVA confirmed that: “The initiative is aligned with the European Regulation on Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA), which governs the issuance and provision of crypto-asset services within the European Union and provides additional safeguards and protection for investors.” The regulatory framework gives traditional institutions a pathway to engage with crypto while maintaining investor protections.
The Spanish launch follows BBVA’s earlier digital asset rollouts in Switzerland in 2021 and Turkey in 2023, expanding access from private clients to a broader retail user base.
BBVA’s decade-long investment in blockchain infrastructure underpins this expansion. The bank began offering crypto services to high-net-worth clients in Switzerland, later adding ether and stablecoins such as USDC. Its Turkish arm has also deployed a wide crypto offering. Francisco Maroto, BBVA’s head of digital assets, stated: “Following this launch in Spain, BBVA has added another country to its digital assets service… Our aim is to offer the best investment and transaction-based solutions to our customers.” The launch reflects BBVA’s continued emphasis on digital transformation while aiming to manage risks through a regulated, compliant framework.
