Bitpanda has partnered with Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) to build a unified digital assets infrastructure for RBI’s banking network in Central and Eastern Europe. Based on RBI’s current scale, this framework could eventually reach approximately 18 million banking customers, although services will not be launched simultaneously across all markets.
Adopt Austria’s existing model
This partnership is not starting from scratch. Previously, Leif Eisen's clients in certain Austrian banks were already able to access crypto assets directly within their existing banking systems through Bitpanda’s technology, without needing to open a separate crypto platform account.
The new protocol extends this model to larger regions. Bitpanda is responsible for the underlying trading and digital asset technology infrastructure, while RBI’s regional subsidiary banks determine which products to offer and when to launch them, based on local regulatory requirements, market demand, and their own operational arrangements.
Covering 11 Central and Eastern European markets
RBI has subsidiary banks in 11 markets across Central and Eastern Europe, serving over 18 million customers. For Bitpanda, this means its banking infrastructure business gains access to a broader traditional financial network; for RBI, it provides its banks with a reusable solution for accessing digital assets.
Currently, this framework is more like a unified underlying system rather than a standardized product rolled out all at once to all customers. Each bank retains the authority to decide on product design and launch timelines.
- The RBI has approximately 420,000 employees in the relevant regions.
- Approximately 1,300 offline business outlets
- The primary customer base is located in Central and Eastern Europe.
Bitpanda expands its institutional infrastructure business
This partnership also reflects Bitpanda’s continued expansion of its business focus toward institutional clients. In addition to its retail crypto trading platform, Bitpanda Enterprise currently provides banks and financial institutions with infrastructure services including trading, custody, liquidity, payments, stablecoins, and tokenization.
Earlier in September, Bitpanda Enterprise expanded its partnership with Germany’s BW-Bank. Prior to that, IG Europe selected Bitpanda to provide liquidity, trading connectivity, and market data services. Bitpanda’s collaboration with Deutsche Bank dates back to 2024, initially focusing on local German IBANs and real-time payments, later extending into digital asset infrastructure.
Bitpanda disclosed adjusted revenue of €371 million for 2025, representing a 16% year-over-year growth, with user numbers reaching 7.4 million. The company has also been continuously expanding its white-label infrastructure business.
European banks are accelerating their entry into the compliant crypto market.
This collaboration comes as traditional European banks are increasingly entering the regulated crypto market. According to data from the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) as of September 16, banking institutions account for nearly 23% of registered crypto service providers.
During the same period, the number of banks on the related list increased from approximately 40 at the end of June to about 80, while the total number of crypto service providers rose from 243 to 349. The German cooperative banking system was one source of growth, with six new institutions added in August alone.
Under the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA), banks follow a different path to enter the crypto market compared to general crypto companies. Credit institutions can offer corresponding crypto services after submitting the required information to their national regulators, whereas ordinary crypto companies typically need to obtain authorization as a crypto-asset service provider.
However, Bitpanda’s compliance record has not been without controversy. In August, the Austrian Financial Market Authority imposed a €70,000 fine on Bitpanda for violations related to cryptocurrency whitepaper and marketing requirements. This was one of the first publicly disclosed final MiCA enforcement actions by Austrian regulators.