Bank Leumi to Offer Direct Bitcoin Trading Through Banking App in Israel by 2027

Bank Leumi is set to become the first Israeli bank to enable its customers to buy, hold, and sell cryptocurrencies directly through its banking systems. The service is expected to launch in early 2027, pending approval from the Bank of Israel, and will be accessible to both Leumi and Pepper customers via a dedicated section in the Leumi Trade app. Initially, the offering will include a limited selection of digital assets such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana.

To facilitate this service, Bank Leumi has signed an agreement with Galaxy Digital and Galaxy Custody, American companies listed on NASDAQ that specialize in digital assets and blockchain-based financial infrastructure. This move marks a significant step in integrating cryptocurrency trading within the traditional banking framework in Israel, addressing longstanding challenges related to anti-money laundering compliance and the verification of fund sources when transferring between digital wallets, trading platforms, and bank accounts.

The cryptocurrency transactions will operate under a regulated banking environment using a dedicated custody infrastructure. However, detailed information about the service, including trading conditions, fees, and the full range of assets to be offered, has not yet been disclosed. Bank Leumi emphasized its belief that digital assets are becoming an integral part of the global financial system and aims to provide customers with a secure, reliable, and regulated way to engage with this evolving market.