Bankinter Takes Stake in Bit2Me Crypto Exchange
Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2026 3:32 am
Spain’s Bankinter has taken a minority equity stake in the cryptocurrency exchange Bit2Me, joining a €30 million funding round that was led by stablecoin issuer Tether and first announced in August 2025.
Bit2Me, headquartered in Madrid, is a regulated digital asset platform that received authorization under the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation, allowing it to operate across all 27 European Union member states. This regulatory status has made it an attractive partner for traditional financial institutions looking to expand into digital asset services.
By joining the investment round, Bankinter becomes the latest major bank to back Bit2Me, alongside other Spanish lenders such as BBVA, Unicaja, and Cecabank. The bank says the move is part of its strategy to explore technological and knowledge synergies, particularly in distributed ledger technology (DLT) and other fintech innovations that could complement its core financial services offerings.
Bit2Me’s growth story reflects increasing institutional interest in regulated crypto infrastructure. The exchange has also collaborated with Telefónica, Investcorp, and other strategic partners to build out its services and broaden its reach. With MiCA in force, Bit2Me aims to accelerate expansion across European markets and into Latin America, leveraging its regulatory compliance and backing from diverse investors.
Industry observers see Bankinter’s investment as part of a broader trend of traditional financial firms seeking exposure to the digital asset ecosystem without having to develop in-house solutions. By aligning with an established and MiCA-licensed platform, banks can tap into crypto-related growth opportunities while benefiting from a regulated framework that reduces legal and compliance uncertainties.
Overall, the deal underlines how regulated exchanges like Bit2Me are becoming bridges between conventional finance and the rapidly evolving crypto market, potentially paving the way for more widespread institutional participation in digital asset services.
Bit2Me, headquartered in Madrid, is a regulated digital asset platform that received authorization under the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation, allowing it to operate across all 27 European Union member states. This regulatory status has made it an attractive partner for traditional financial institutions looking to expand into digital asset services.
By joining the investment round, Bankinter becomes the latest major bank to back Bit2Me, alongside other Spanish lenders such as BBVA, Unicaja, and Cecabank. The bank says the move is part of its strategy to explore technological and knowledge synergies, particularly in distributed ledger technology (DLT) and other fintech innovations that could complement its core financial services offerings.
Bit2Me’s growth story reflects increasing institutional interest in regulated crypto infrastructure. The exchange has also collaborated with Telefónica, Investcorp, and other strategic partners to build out its services and broaden its reach. With MiCA in force, Bit2Me aims to accelerate expansion across European markets and into Latin America, leveraging its regulatory compliance and backing from diverse investors.
Industry observers see Bankinter’s investment as part of a broader trend of traditional financial firms seeking exposure to the digital asset ecosystem without having to develop in-house solutions. By aligning with an established and MiCA-licensed platform, banks can tap into crypto-related growth opportunities while benefiting from a regulated framework that reduces legal and compliance uncertainties.
Overall, the deal underlines how regulated exchanges like Bit2Me are becoming bridges between conventional finance and the rapidly evolving crypto market, potentially paving the way for more widespread institutional participation in digital asset services.