IG Europe, the EU arm of London-listed IG Group, has partnered with Austrian crypto exchange Bitpanda to expand its digital asset offerings across the European Union. The agreement will allow IG Europe to use Bitpanda’s infrastructure for crypto trading, including liquidity, trading connectivity, and market data, according to an announcement reported by CoinDesk and CoinCentral.
Regulatory footing and client demand: IG Europe operates under Germany’s BaFin regulation and recently secured a MiCA license, enabling it to offer crypto services throughout the bloc under the EU’s unified framework. Managing Director Esteve Jane stated that clients want access to digital assets from trusted platforms, and “this partnership delivers it.”
Business context: IG Group launched crypto trading for UK retail customers last year and has been seeking to replicate that model in Europe. In its first quarter of 2026, IG reported £331.2 million (~$445 million) in revenue, with spot crypto contributing £2.4 million (~$3.2 million), indicating a small but active segment. The company serves around 1.3 million clients globally.
Bitpanda’s role: Bitpanda, which holds MiCA licenses in Germany and Malta, will act as the infrastructure provider via its enterprise division. Nadeem Ladki, Bitpanda’s representative, emphasized that the collaboration reinforces the exchange’s position as a partner enabling institutions to safely enter digital asset markets. Bitpanda reported a 16% revenue increase to €371 million in 2025 and reached 7.4 million users.
Wider moves: Beyond this partnership, IG has been reshaping its crypto strategy. It agreed to acquire 70% of Australian exchange Independent Reserve for A$109.6 million, while selling the CFTC-regulated Small Exchange to Kraken for $100 million. Bitpanda is also exploring a potential public listing this year. No timeline was given for the European rollout, but the deal signifies a continued push by traditional brokers into regulated crypto trading.
