RBI-Bitpanda Deal Could Reach 18 Million Customers, But Actual Trading Numbers Unclear

Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI), a major bank in Central and Eastern Europe, has partnered with Bitpanda to offer cryptocurrency services to its customers. The deal could potentially reach up to 18 million customers across RBI's network of banks.

However, not all these customers will be able to trade cryptocurrencies immediately. According to the announcement, each individual bank within RBI's network will roll out the service progressively, reflecting local market needs and regulatory requirements. This means that the actual number of customers who can buy or sell cryptocurrencies through this partnership is still unknown.

The Austrian model for Bitpanda's services has been operating since 2024, with Raiffeisen Landesbank Niederoesterreich-Wien offering access to Bitpanda's platform in its banking environment. A second regional institution, Raiffeisen Salzburg, also offers the service and describes it as a way to trade over 650 crypto coins and tokens.

But RBI's partnership with Bitpanda is distinct from these Austrian agreements and should not be added together to produce a bigger customer pool. The 18 million figure represents the total number of customers across RBI's network, but it does not account for factors such as age restrictions, compatible app requirements, or regulatory limitations.