RBI and Bitpanda Scale Up Crypto Operations
Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) has announced an expanded partnership with crypto firm Bitpanda to offer cryptocurrency trading services across its banking network. The public announcement was made on Wednesday, September 23, detailing plans for Bitpanda Enterprise to provide the underlying infrastructure for RBI network banks to launch their own digital asset services.
The framework encompasses an RBI network serving approximately 18 million customers. Individual network banks will retain the autonomy to determine their specific service offerings and launch timelines, depending on local market conditions and regulatory environments.
RBI CEO Michael Höllerer noted that the bank is addressing rising demand for crypto assets across its markets by collaborating with a reputable partner.
Rollout Schedule and Regional Expansion
The new agreement builds upon an existing collaboration established in 2024 between Bitpanda and Austria's Raiffeisenlandesbank Niederösterreich-Wien. Christian Trummer, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Bitpanda, stated that the initiative scales the model pioneered in Austria to introduce digital assets to millions of individuals across the Central and Eastern European (CEE) region.
While Austrian customers already have access to the service, the next phase of the rollout will target Albania, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. According to an RBI spokesperson, the implementation in these three countries is scheduled to begin in the first half of the following year.
This integration allows traditional finance customers to access cryptocurrency trading directly through the same financial institutions holding their savings accounts.
