Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) has partnered with Bitpanda Enterprise to develop a common digital asset framework for its Central and Eastern European banking network. The framework builds on their existing cooperation in Austria and could eventually bring digital asset services within reach of up to 18 million customers across RBI’s CEE network.
Key Overview
- Partners: Raiffeisen Bank International and Bitpanda Enterprise
- Potential reach: Up to 18 million customers
- Initial model: Launched through RLB NÖ-Wien in Austria in 2024
- Framework: Group-wide digital asset infrastructure for RBI’s CEE network
- Services: Trading, custody, liquidity, payments, stablecoins and tokenisation
- Product rollout: Individual banks retain control over product design and launch timing
- Bitpanda 2025 adjusted revenue: €371 million
- Bitpanda users: 7.4 million in 2025
Raiffeisen and Bitpanda Expand Digital Asset Partnership
Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) has partnered with Bitpanda Enterprise to create a common digital asset framework for its Central and Eastern European banking network.
The partnership could potentially bring crypto and other digital asset services within reach of up to 18 million customers across RBI’s CEE network.
The expanded cooperation builds on an existing partnership between Bitpanda and Raiffeisen Landesbank Niederösterreich-Wien (RLB NÖ-Wien). In 2024, RLB NÖ-Wien became the first traditional bank in the European Union to offer crypto access through its existing banking environment, powered by Bitpanda.
The new arrangement moves beyond individual market integrations towards a group-wide approach, creating an underlying framework for digital asset services across RBI’s wider CEE banking network.
Building Digital Assets Into Everyday Banking
The partnership reflects the increasing integration of digital assets into existing banking environments and financial platforms.
Rather than requiring customers to use separate platforms, the framework is intended to support digital asset services within banking environments that customers already use.
Michael Höllerer, CEO of Raiffeisen Bank International, said:
“As a customer-centric bank, we are committed to meeting our customers’ needs in the best possible way. We are seeing growing demand for crypto assets in our markets, which we are addressing with a strong, reputable partner.”
Christian Trummer, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Bitpanda, said:
“Technology has always been about building bridges between what exists today and what becomes possible tomorrow. Together with RBI, we’re doing exactly that: combining the reach and trust of traditional banking with digital asset technology to create infrastructure that works across markets and borders.”
He added that the partnership represents an expansion of the model pioneered in Austria and could bring digital assets to millions of people in the CEE region.
Common Framework, Individual Bank Decisions
The framework is currently intended to function as a unified underlying system, rather than a standardised digital asset product being launched simultaneously across all RBI banks.
Individual banks within the network will retain the authority to determine their own product design and launch timelines.
This means that while the partnership establishes common infrastructure across the network, the availability and form of digital asset services can differ between individual markets.
RBI’s relevant regional operations include approximately 420,000 employees and around 1,300 offline business outlets, with its primary customer base located in Central and Eastern Europe.
Bitpanda Expands Institutional Infrastructure
The partnership also forms part of Bitpanda’s broader expansion into institutional digital asset infrastructure.
In addition to its retail crypto trading platform, Bitpanda Enterprise provides banks and financial institutions with infrastructure covering areas such as trading, custody, liquidity, payments, stablecoins, and tokenisation.
Earlier in September, Bitpanda Enterprise expanded its partnership with Germany’s BW-Bank. Before 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 before expanding into digital asset infrastructure.
Bitpanda reported adjusted revenue of €371 million for 2025, representing 16% year-over-year growth, while its user base reached 7.4 million.
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European Banks Expand Crypto Services
The RBI-Bitpanda partnership comes as European banks expand their involvement in the regulated crypto market.
According to data from the European Securities and Markets Authority cited in the source, banking institutions accounted for nearly 23% of registered crypto service providers as of September 16.
During the same period, the number of banks on the relevant list increased from approximately 40 at the end of June to about 80, while the total number of crypto service providers increased from 243 to 349.
The German cooperative banking system was one source of growth, with six new institutions added in August alone.
MiCA Framework for Banks
Under the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA), banks follow a different route to enter the crypto market compared with general crypto companies.
Credit institutions can offer corresponding crypto services after submitting the required information to their national regulators. Ordinary crypto companies generally need to obtain authorisation as crypto-asset service providers.
The regulatory framework therefore provides a pathway for traditional financial institutions to offer digital asset services while operating within the applicable regulatory requirements.
Bitpanda Faces Regulatory Fine
Bitpanda’s compliance record has also faced regulatory scrutiny.
In August, the Austrian Financial Market Authority imposed a €70,000 fine on Bitpanda for violations related to cryptocurrency whitepaper and marketing requirements.
The source describes this as one of the first publicly disclosed final MiCA enforcement actions by Austrian regulators.
Outlook
The partnership between RBI and Bitpanda establishes a common underlying framework for digital asset services across RBI’s Central and Eastern European banking network.
While individual banks will determine their own products and launch timelines, the framework provides a foundation for digital asset services across multiple markets.
For Bitpanda, the partnership further expands its institutional infrastructure business, while RBI can use the framework to respond to growing demand for crypto assets across its markets.
4 FAQs
1. What are Raiffeisen Bank International and Bitpanda developing?
They are creating a common digital asset framework for RBI’s Central and Eastern European banking network, potentially bringing digital asset services to up to 18 million customers.
2. Which bank first offered crypto access through Bitpanda?
Raiffeisen Landesbank Niederösterreich-Wien (RLB NÖ-Wien) became the first traditional bank in the EU to offer crypto access through its existing banking environment, powered by Bitpanda, in 2024.
3. Will all RBI banks launch the same crypto products at the same time?
No. The framework is intended to provide common underlying infrastructure, but each bank retains authority over its product design and launch timeline.
4. What digital asset services does Bitpanda Enterprise provide?
Bitpanda Enterprise provides institutional infrastructure services including trading, custody, liquidity, payments, stablecoins and tokenisation.
Sources: crypto news. KuCoin, Raiffeisen Bank International
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