European Neobank Bunq Partners with Kraken to Launch Crypto Trading in Six Countries

Highlights:

• Bunq introduces a crypto trading feature, letting European users access and invest in more than 300 digital assets.
• Neobank’s user growth fuels global crypto expansion plans, including the UK and the US.
• Eric Trump warns banks to adapt to crypto or face extinction within 10 years.

On April 29, Europe’s second-largest neobank, Bunq, announced the launch of Bunq Crypto, a new service that lets users invest in over 300 cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH), and Solana (SOL). The service will be accessible to Bunq users in Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, and Belgium. The launch was driven by user demand for an easy, clear, and reliable way to invest in crypto.

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Bunq introduced its crypto service amid rapid user growth, with its customer base increasing from 9 million to 12.5 million in a year. This is the first step in Bunq’s global crypto expansion, with plans to slowly introduce crypto trading across the European Economic Area, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Expanding into the UK and the US will involve complying with stricter regulations, such as the UK’s FCA guidelines and US crypto oversight, particularly after recent enforcement actions.

Bunq Offers Crypto Services Due to Rising User Demand

The neobank conducted a survey across Europe to understand the crypto investment preferences of internationally-minded users. According to Bunq’s research, 65% of surveyed users favor using a single platform to handle banking, savings, and crypto investments. Over half of crypto-curious users feel existing platforms fall short, and the fintech aims to provide a simple, reliable solution. The crypto feature combines Bunq’s secure banking with support from Kraken, a top exchange known for its crypto expertise.

Founder and CEO of Bunq, Ali Niknam stated:

“Our users across the world have long waited for a simple, safe and straightforward way to invest in digital assets. Now, everything needed to save, spend, and invest including crypto is on one platform.”

Founded in 2012, Bunq now supports more than 17 million users across Europe, holding deposits of over €8 billion. The digital bank provides various financial tools such as current and savings accounts, debit cards, and mortgage services. With the addition of crypto trading, Bunq continues to expand its offerings, aiming to streamline finance and adapt to changing user demands. Last year, the company reported net profits of €85.3 million, showing a 65% rise from the previous year and marking its second year of consistent profitability.

Eric Trump Warns Banks: Adapt to Crypto or Face Extinction in 10 Years

Eric Trump, the son of Donald Trump and executive vice president of the Trump Organization, has shared a strong warning for global banks about the growing role of cryptocurrency. In an interview with CNBC on April 30, he spoke about the problems in today’s financial system.

He said it is slow, expensive, and mainly benefits the very wealthy. He explained that these issues are what pushed him to explore the world of digital assets. Eric said that if banks fail to adapt to these changes, they could become irrelevant. He warned that without action, many of them may no longer exist in the next 10 years.

Eric said banks need to pay close attention to what’s happening in the crypto space. He believes blockchain, the tech behind crypto, could improve the financial system. Eric also criticized current cross-border payment systems like SWIFT. He said they are too slow and outdated.

JUST IN: 🇺🇸 Eric Trump warns banks must embrace cryptocurrency or face extinction in 10 years. pic.twitter.com/bFOsfFuAXK

— Whale Insider (@WhaleInsider) April 30, 2025

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