Israel’s largest bank to offer crypto trading with Galaxy
Reported by CoinDesk · AI-assisted summary by ChikoCorp AI News Desk
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Summary
Bank Leumi, Israel’s largest bank, will enable its customers to buy, hold, and sell bitcoin, ether, and solana through the Leumi Trade app starting in early 2027. Galaxy Digital will provide the trading and custody infrastructure for this service. This initiative will make Bank Leumi the first Israeli bank to offer digital asset trading directly within its platform.
Why it matters
According to the source, this development integrates cryptocurrency trading into a regulated banking interface, which may appeal to clients preferring bank-based services over standalone crypto exchanges. It also positions Bank Leumi among financial institutions incorporating digital asset access in mainstream banking apps, signaling a broader shift in the financial sector.
Key context
The service will be offered through Leumi and its mobile banking unit, Pepper. Galaxy Digital’s platform, GalaxyOne Institutional, will handle trading services, while custody will be supported via Galaxy’s infrastructure formerly known as GK8. Bank Leumi’s head of strategy considers digital assets part of the global financial system, and Galaxy Israel’s CEO views early bank adopters as influential in shaping finance’s future infrastructure.
Key numbers and entities
Bank Leumi; Pepper (mobile banking unit); Galaxy Digital (ticker GLXY); GalaxyOne Institutional platform; cryptocurrencies involved are bitcoin (BTC), ether (ETH), and solana (SOL). The launch is planned for early 2027. No commercial terms or fees were disclosed.
What remains unclear
The source does not disclose commercial terms, fees, or customer eligibility requirements for the service. CoinDesk has sought further comments from Bank Leumi but no additional details were provided.