IG Europe is expanding its cryptocurrency services across the European Union through a new partnership with Bitpanda, as the trading giant responds to growing investor demand for regulated digital asset access.
Key Takeaways
- IG Europe partnered with Bitpanda to expand crypto trading services across the European Union.
- The company will use Bitpanda’s infrastructure, liquidity, and market data services for its digital asset offering.
- IG has recently expanded its crypto business through a MiCA license acquisition and the purchase of crypto exchange Independent Reserve.
- Bitpanda continues strengthening its position in Europe while reportedly exploring a potential public listing.
What Happened?
IG Europe announced a strategic partnership with European crypto exchange Bitpanda to broaden its digital asset services across the EU. The move comes as traditional financial firms continue increasing their involvement in cryptocurrency markets following rising institutional and retail demand.
The partnership will allow IG Europe to use Bitpanda’s infrastructure to offer clients wider access to digital assets while operating within Europe’s regulated financial framework.
IG EXPANDS EUROPEAN CRYPTO TRADING VIA BITPANDA
— REF (@The_Ref_io) May 21, 2026
London listed broker utilizes MiCA compliant infrastructure to broaden digital asset access for European clients
> CoinDesk
IG Europe Expands Its Crypto Push in Europe
IG Europe GmbH, the European arm of London listed trading platform IG Group, is stepping deeper into the crypto sector as it seeks to strengthen its presence in digital assets. The company confirmed that it will integrate Bitpanda’s trading infrastructure, including liquidity services, market connectivity, and market data solutions.
IG Europe Managing Director Esteve Jane said:
IG Europe operates under the supervision of Germany’s Federal Financial Supervisory Authority, known as BaFin. The company is one of Europe’s largest retail trading platforms, offering access to equities, commodities, foreign exchange, derivatives, and now an expanding range of digital assets.
The company currently serves approximately 1.3 million clients globally and has continued increasing its crypto footprint over the past year.
Crypto Expansion Continues After UK Launch
The latest partnership follows IG’s earlier move into cryptocurrency trading in the United Kingdom. The company introduced spot crypto trading for UK retail customers last year as part of a broader strategy to diversify its trading products.
IG recently revealed that spot crypto trading contributed 2.4 million pounds in revenue during the first quarter of 2026. Total company revenue for the period reached 331.2 million pounds.
The company has also taken additional steps to strengthen its crypto operations internationally. In recent months, IG acquired Australian crypto exchange Independent Reserve and secured a Markets in Crypto Assets regulation license, commonly known as MiCA, allowing it to offer crypto products and services across the European Union.
Another notable move involved the sale of futures exchange platform Small Exchange Inc to crypto exchange Kraken. IG had originally acquired the platform in 2023 before later transferring ownership as part of a broader collaboration with Kraken.
Bitpanda Strengthens Its Institutional Presence
Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Vienna, Bitpanda has grown into one of Europe’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges. The company is licensed in Austria and also holds MiCA related approvals in Germany and Malta, enabling it to operate crypto services throughout the EU.
Bitpanda Enterprise Global Head Nadeem Ladki said:
Bitpanda has also been actively expanding its services beyond crypto trading. The company recently added support for thousands of equities and ETFs while continuing its expansion into new international markets, including the United Kingdom.
According to its latest financial disclosures, Bitpanda had at least 7.4 million users by the end of 2025. Reports also suggest the company is exploring a potential public listing later this year.
CoinLaw’s Takeaway
In my experience, this partnership highlights how quickly traditional finance firms are becoming more comfortable with crypto infrastructure providers. Instead of building everything from scratch, companies like IG are choosing regulated crypto firms that already have liquidity, compliance systems, and trading technology in place. I found this especially important because it shows digital assets are slowly becoming part of mainstream investing rather than remaining a separate niche market.
The MiCA framework is also playing a major role here. Clear regulations are giving large financial firms more confidence to expand crypto products across Europe. If more traditional brokers follow IG’s approach, the European crypto market could see stronger institutional adoption in the coming years.
