Partners Banka has launched direct bitcoin trading in its mobile app, making it the first domestic commercial bank in the Czech Republic to offer clients integrated cryptocurrency transactions. The feature allows clients to open a crypto account and begin buying or selling bitcoin with as little as $23.
Through its partnership with Anycoin, which operates under the European Union's Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation, Partners Banka enables clients to trade bitcoin directly within the app without maintenance or custody fees. Individual transactions can reach up to $68,700 and are subject to a 2% markup, divided between the bank and Anycoin. Bitcoin purchased through the service cannot be transferred to external wallets.
The integration removes several barriers to entry for retail investors. Users no longer need to download separate applications, create accounts on foreign exchanges, or manage complex security phrases. Instead, transactions are completed in-app with funds debited directly from the user's primary bank account.
Partners Banka partnered with Anycoin, which secured its license from the Czech National Bank under the MiCA framework earlier this year. The regulatory clarity provided by MiCA was a prerequisite for bringing cryptocurrency services into a fully regulated banking system, according to Partners Banka CEO Petr Borkovec.
Despite offering the service, Borkovec advised retail users that bitcoin should remain a small component of a broader investment strategy. Partners Banka currently has no plans to add other cryptocurrencies to the platform.
