IG Europe has selected Bitpanda as a technology partner to expand its cryptocurrency offerings across the European Union, pairing one of Europe’s largest online trading platforms with a Vienna-based crypto infrastructure provider.
KEY POINTS
- IG Europe has chosen Bitpanda Technology Solutions to power its crypto expansion in the EU.
- The partnership could broaden digital asset access for IG Europe’s existing client base beyond CFD products.
- IG Europe already holds DASP registration with France’s AMF, signaling regulatory readiness.
What IG Europe and Bitpanda announced
The move connects IG Europe, a subsidiary of the London-listed IG Group, with Bitpanda Technology Solutions, which provides white-label crypto trading infrastructure to financial institutions. Bitpanda’s technology arm lists regulated brokers and banks among its partners, offering them access to tokenized assets and cryptocurrency execution without building the infrastructure in-house.
IG Europe currently offers crypto trading through contracts for difference (CFDs), as shown on its French-language crypto trading page. By integrating Bitpanda’s infrastructure, the broker could potentially broaden the range of digital assets available to its EU client base beyond existing derivative products.
How the partnership could expand crypto access for EU clients
The partnership model follows a pattern seen across European brokerages. Rather than building proprietary crypto custody and execution systems, traditional brokers are increasingly turning to licensed infrastructure providers. Bitpanda Technology Solutions specializes in this approach, offering API-based access to crypto markets for regulated financial firms.
Exact rollout timelines and which specific digital assets will be made available have not been confirmed. Product availability will likely vary by jurisdiction and depend on compliance conditions in individual EU member states.
Potential benefits for users
EU-based clients of IG Europe could gain access to a wider selection of cryptocurrencies through a platform they already use for traditional trading. The integration of Bitpanda’s backend could streamline onboarding for users who want crypto exposure alongside equities, forex, and commodities.
Regulatory constraints shaping rollout
IG Europe GmbH holds registration as a Digital Asset Service Provider (DASP) with the French financial markets authority, as the AMF’s DASP whitelist confirms. This registration is a prerequisite for offering crypto services in France and signals that IG Europe has already laid groundwork for compliant crypto product distribution in at least one major EU market.
The broader EU regulatory landscape is shifting as the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework takes effect. Partnerships between established brokers and licensed crypto infrastructure providers position both parties to meet incoming compliance requirements more efficiently than building standalone systems. Regulators in other jurisdictions, including Singapore, which recently revoked a crypto firm’s payment license, continue to tighten oversight of digital asset service providers globally.
Why this matters for competition and regulation in Europe
The selection of Bitpanda reflects a broader trend of traditional brokerages seeking crypto partnerships rather than organic development. This approach has gained traction as firms like WhiteBIT expand their European footprint and competition for crypto-curious retail clients intensifies across the region.
Brokerage competition intensifies across Europe
For IG Europe, the partnership could differentiate its EU offering at a time when multiple brokers and exchanges are racing to capture market share under new regulatory frameworks. For Bitpanda, adding a high-profile brokerage client reinforces its position as one of Europe’s leading B2B crypto infrastructure providers.
The deal also arrives as major platforms invest heavily in compliance and user experience. Operational efficiency gains across the industry are pushing brokerages to partner with specialists rather than build from scratch, a dynamic that favors infrastructure-as-a-service models like Bitpanda’s.
Whether the partnership translates into meaningful market share gains for IG Europe will depend on execution speed, the breadth of assets offered, and how effectively both firms navigate the EU’s evolving regulatory requirements.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Cryptocurrency and digital asset markets carry significant risk. Always do your own research before making decisions.
