In a significant move for the cryptocurrency landscape in Europe, Bankinter has acquired a minority stake in Bit2Me, a leading Spanish crypto exchange. This investment is part of a larger funding round totaling 30 million euros, spearheaded by Tether, and marks a growing trend of traditional financial institutions engaging with regulated crypto platforms, as emphasized in the official statement.
Bankinter Backs Bit2Me
Bankinter's investment positions it as the fourth Spanish bank to back Bit2Me, which is based in Madrid. The exchange is focused on leveraging technological synergies related to distributed ledger technology, aiming to enhance its service offerings and operational capabilities. The funding round also saw contributions from notable investors such as:
- Telefónica
- Investcorp
- Inveready
Significant Milestone Achieved
Bit2Me recently achieved a significant milestone by securing authorization from Spain's securities regulator, CNMV, on July 29, 2025. This approval makes it the first Spanish-speaking fintech to be recognized as a Crypto Asset Service Provider under the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets regulation. The backing from Bankinter underscores a strategic approach by traditional banks to navigate the evolving cryptocurrency infrastructure within established regulatory frameworks, with plans for Bit2Me to expand its footprint across the EU and strengthen its presence in Latin America.
In a related development, Polygon Labs has introduced the Open Money Stack, aiming to enhance efficiency in cross-border payments. This initiative contrasts with traditional banking investments like Bankinter's stake in Bit2Me. For more details, see read more.
