A new survey commissioned by Boerse Stuttgart Digital reveals a significant shift in European retail finance, with digital asset services becoming a key factor in customer loyalty. The study, conducted by Marketagent between August 2025 and January 2026, surveyed 6,000 investors across Germany, Italy, Spain, and France.
The findings show that 35% of respondents would consider switching their primary bank if a competitor offered stronger cryptocurrency investment options. This sentiment is strongest in Spain, where 40% of investors expressed this view, followed by Italy (35%), France (33%), and Germany (29%).
Cryptocurrency ownership is concurrently expanding, with 25% of respondents already invested. Spain again leads in adoption at nearly 28%, followed by Germany (25%), Italy (24%), and France (23%). Despite this growth, significant barriers remain. Over 60% of investors feel poorly informed about crypto, and 69% describe it as too complex. Regulatory concerns are paramount, with 76% viewing digital assets as insufficiently regulated and therefore risky.
Traditional banks, however, hold a crucial trust advantage. Investors were more than twice as likely to trust their primary bank for crypto services compared to specialized platforms. This presents a major opportunity, as nearly one in five respondents expect their bank to offer crypto access within the next three years, signaling a move from niche offering to standard feature.
The regulatory landscape is being shaped by the European Union's Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework, which went into full effect for service providers in December 2024. Nearly half (49%) of surveyed investors said MiCA has increased their trust in digital assets, making them "safer and more attractive." Matthias Voelkel, CEO of Börse Stuttgart Group, emphasized that "trust and clear regulation are essential for the next phase of crypto adoption in Europe."
The report underscores that while access to crypto in Europe has expanded, it remains uneven, with many large institutions taking a cautious approach. This creates a competitive opening for banks that move decisively to integrate regulated crypto services, leveraging their inherent customer trust to capture a growing market.
