Leumi Makes History with Bitcoin Trading Launch
Israeli bank Leumi is set to become the country's first lender to offer Bitcoin trading services, partnering with Galaxy Digital. The service will be available through Leumi's mobile banking app, PEPPER, and will allow customers to buy, hold, and sell Bitcoin directly. This move marks a significant development in the adoption of digital assets in Israel.
The bank had initially announced plans to debut crypto trading in 2022 but shelved the initiative. However, with the latest project, Leumi is working with Galaxy's institutional platform, GalaxyOne Institutional, to provide a secure and regulated framework for customers to engage with digital assets.
Galaxy Israel CEO Lior Lamesh emphasized that banks that move first will define the era of open, programmable rails in finance. The service is expected to launch in early 2027, allowing customers to trade other cryptocurrencies on top of Bitcoin.