Early Bitcoin, Ethereum, or even XRP investors, including VCs and angels, are already rich. Bitcoin rose by more than 1 million percent in the last decade, while Ethereum, per some projections, may reach $10,000 before 2030. Solana, XRP, and other top 10 cryptos are already up several multiples from their all-time lows.
Given this, institutions will always track the industry, looking for safe ways to gain exposure. While crypto products approved in the US are already gaining traction, drawing billions from Wall Street, there are noteworthy moves in the otherwise restrictive EU. So far in early February, spot Bitcoin ETF issuers manage over $100Bn despite massive outflows in January.
(Source: SosoValue)
Recently, ING Germany rolled out crypto ETP trading for retail investors, giving direct exposure to Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana through regular securities accounts. While the product is definitely attractive, the timing coincides with a period when crypto sentiment has taken a hit. Bitcoin, Solana, and Ethereum are trading at around 2026 lows, extending losses from Q4 2025.
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What is a Crypto ETP and Why Is ING Offering It?
The fact that ING Germany is issuing a crypto ETP, in partnership with VanEck, for retail investors comes as no surprise. Increasingly, more crypto firms in Europe are offering crypto access through regulated products instead of exchanges. Banks in Europe can now treat crypto like a stock or bond, lowering the learning curve. It also signals how European regulation is reshaping who controls access to digital assets.
Big move for European adoption: ING Germany is opening the doors to crypto for its 9.5 million customers. As the third-largest bank in the world's third-largest economy, their new crypto ETN offerings mark a major milestone for retail crypto access. pic.twitter.com/Vk8QGvV5cq
— Lark Davis (@LarkDavis) February 3, 2026
A crypto ETP is a security that tracks the price of a coin without requiring you to hold it directly. In this arrangement, the bank handles custody and reporting. ING Germany can do this because BaFin regulates it as a licensed bank. Retail investors buy a Bitcoin ETP, Ethereum ETP, or Solana ETP inside the same account they use for shares or ETFs. No wallets. No private keys. Less room for user error.
The ETP is available for trading through an existing ING securities account alongside regular stocks and ETFs. However, there are some procedures to complete before trading. For example, before placing an order, the trader must pass a mandatory suitability check to prove an understanding of underlying risks, mainly volatility. When approved, traders will pay a commission. At the same time, the underlying asset cannot be withdrawn and moved to third-party wallets like MetaMask.
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Gamechanger for Retail Investors In Europe?
The structure of the crypto ETP mirrors the demand seen in spot crypto ETFs and ETPs from firms like VanEck and Bitwise. Big players entering early usually signal where regulated money feels safest. This launch removes a common fear for beginners: custody risk. After the collapse of exchanges, mainly FTX, in the last bear market in 2022, many people decided crypto was not worth the stress. A bank-backed crypto ETP answers that concern directly.
It also plugs crypto into existing European regulations. Because an ETP is legally structured as a transferable security, it falls under the long-standing Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID II) framework. Here, the rules are simple: If the offering, in this case by ING, trades on a stock exchange, then it will be governed by traditional securities laws, such as the German Banking Act, rather than MiCA. Traders will get the protections of a regulated brokerage account, which are often more robust than early-stage crypto regulations.
By using ETPs, ING is providing a product that fits perfectly into an institution’s risk-management software and tax reporting. This makes sense because institutions are often legally prohibited from holding “raw” tokens because they cannot easily audit or secure them. And this trend is growing; thus far, banks like BPCE in France and Commerzbank in Germany are following ING’s lead.
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