Bitcoin Updates Today: Clearer Regulations Propel Nordea to Introduce Bitcoin ETP in 2025

Nordea, the largest bank in Scandinavia, plans to make its debut in the cryptocurrency sector in December 2025 by introducing a Bitcoin-based exchange-traded product (ETP) for its clients. This marks a notable shift from the bank’s traditionally conservative approach to digital currencies. The synthetic ETP, created in collaboration with digital asset company CoinShares, will allow customers to gain exposure to

(BTC) without actually owning the digital asset itself. This development comes after the full rollout of the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation in December 2024, which has provided a clearer legal structure for crypto offerings in Europe, as reported by a .

Managing €648 billion in assets and serving more than 10 million clients, Nordea had previously prohibited its staff from owning Bitcoin in 2018, citing regulatory ambiguities and concerns for investor safety. The bank now attributes its decision to the evolving maturity of the crypto market and increasing client interest. The ETP will be accessible via an execution-only model, enabling users to trade directly on Nordea’s platforms without receiving investment guidance from the bank, according to a

.

The introduction of this ETP highlights growing institutional trust in cryptocurrencies as regulated investment options. European markets have experienced a surge in crypto investment products, with companies like Nordnet and Valour already providing ETPs linked to Bitcoin and other digital assets. Nordea’s participation may further legitimize crypto investments for both individual and institutional investors in the Nordic countries, where crypto ownership has grown to 2.1 million people—up from 1.5 million in 2024—according to the Cointelegraph report.

The clarity brought by MiCA has been crucial. This regulation, which established the EU’s first comprehensive legal framework for digital assets, has helped companies better manage compliance risks. Nordea pointed out that the updated rules have “expanded the foundation for crypto-based investment products” and fostered a favorable environment for blockchain development, as noted in a

. The bank also remarked that the Nordic region’s advanced regulatory landscape has positioned it as a center for merging traditional finance (TradFi) with Web3, even though grassroots adoption trails behind some other areas.

CoinShares, which is supplying the ETP, has played a significant role in broadening access to crypto across Europe. The company recently introduced a zero-fee Telegram Open Network (TON) ETP and has submitted applications for altcoin ETFs worldwide, demonstrating its commitment to connecting institutional investors with digital assets, as detailed in a

. Nordea’s collaboration with CoinShares fits into the latter’s broader strategy to diversify its offerings, including synthetic ETPs that track crypto prices without holding the actual tokens.

The synthetic nature of the ETP—where returns are based on Bitcoin’s price movements rather than direct ownership—addresses some of Nordea’s previous concerns about risk. This setup enables the bank to provide crypto exposure while reducing operational issues such as custody and price volatility. CoinShares’ experience with regulated ETPs, including its TON product with staking rewards, adds further credibility to the new offering, as highlighted in the CoinShares press release.

Industry experts see this step as a significant advancement for crypto acceptance in Europe. As the U.S. records unprecedented trading activity in Ether (ETH) and

(SOL) ETFs, the European institutional crypto sector is also gaining traction. Nordea’s ETP could appeal to Nordic investors looking for diversified digital asset exposure, especially as forecasts indicate that crypto ownership in the region could climb to 6.4 million by 2035, according to the Cointelegraph report.

This launch is part of a larger movement of established financial institutions adopting crypto within regulated environments. With MiCA strengthening investor safeguards and operational standards, more banks may follow Nordea’s example, further integrating crypto into mainstream financial systems.

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