TheBlock
Bank Leumi, Israel's largest bank, plans to let customers trade bitcoin, ether and solana through its mobile banking app beginning in early 2027, pairing the country's biggest deposit base with Galaxy Digital's institutional trading and custody infrastructure. The bank will surface BTC, ETH, SOL and other selected tokens through its investment app and PEPPER, its mobile digital banking arm. Maya Ravia, Leumi's Head of Strategy, framed the rollout as a pillar of the bank's innovation strategy and said the bank sees digital assets as 'gradually becoming an integral part of the global financial system.'
Why it matters
This is Leumi's second crypto push. In 2022 the bank announced a partnership with Paxos to offer crypto trading, but the launch never moved forward. The Galaxy partnership swaps out the infrastructure provider and widens asset coverage, and the credibility of Galaxy matters: Mike Novogratz's firm is one of the most institutionalized crypto-native operators in the world, with a public listing and a dedicated trading and custody book. The timing aligns with a maturing domestic market. Chainalysis estimated Israel received roughly $22 billion in onchain crypto value during the 12 months ending June 2025, and broader Middle East and North Africa onchain activity rose 33% year over year to more than $500 billion.
Market impact
The immediate reaction in BTC, ETH and SOL will be modest on volume. Leumi's retail book is a fraction of the flows that move spot prices, but the symbolic weight is heavier than the dollar figure. A developed-economy bank's flagship app surfacing direct crypto trading routes a regulated on-ramp to a population that previously had to leave the banking system for exposure. Comparable milestones (Fidelity's BTC 401(k) inclusion, UBS and BBVA rolling out spot crypto for retail) have typically produced a multi-week sentiment lift in BTC even when spot volume is muted. Watch whether other Israeli banks follow, and whether Galaxy's footprint in the region extends beyond the Leumi mandate.
Frequently asked questions
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Which bank is offering crypto trading in Israel?
Bank Leumi, Israel's largest bank, is partnering with Galaxy Digital to offer BTC, ETH and SOL trading through its investment app and PEPPER mobile banking arm starting in early 2027.
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When will Bank Leumi's crypto trading launch?
The rollout is targeted for early 2027, according to the bank's announcement.
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Has Bank Leumi tried offering crypto before?
Yes. In 2022 Leumi announced a partnership with Paxos to offer crypto trading, but the launch never moved forward. The Galaxy partnership swaps out the infrastructure provider and widens asset coverage.
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What is Galaxy Digital's role in the partnership?
Galaxy Digital, the publicly-listed crypto firm led by Mike Novogratz, will provide the institutional trading and custody infrastructure behind Leumi's retail offering.
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How big is crypto activity in Israel and the wider region?
Chainalysis estimated Israel received roughly $22 billion in onchain crypto value during the 12 months ending June 2025, and broader MENA onchain activity rose 33% year over year to more than $500 billion.
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