Bankinter has acquired a minority stake in Bit2Me, joining a €30 million funding round that stablecoin issuer Tether led in August 2025.
The Spanish bank's investment strengthens a growing alliance between traditional finance and regulated cryptocurrency platforms in Europe.
Bankinter now joins fellow Spanish banks BBVA, Unicaja, and Cecabank as shareholders in the Madrid-based exchange.
The partnership aims to explore technological synergies around distributed ledger technology solutions, according to Bit2Me.
What Happened
Bankinter finalized its investment this week, becoming the fourth Spanish banking institution to hold equity in Bit2Me.
The funding round, which Tether led last summer, also included participation from Telefónica, Investcorp, and Inveready.
Bit2Me secured authorization from Spain's securities regulator CNMV on July 29, 2025, becoming the first Spanish-speaking fintech approved as a Crypto-Asset Service Provider under the European Union's Markets in Crypto-Assets regulation.
MiCA, which took full effect in December 2024, establishes harmonized rules for cryptocurrency services across all 27 EU member states.
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Why It Matters
The investment reflects traditional banking's calculated approach to cryptocurrency infrastructure under clear regulatory frameworks.
Pablo Casadío, Bit2Me's CFO, said banks can leverage the platform's regulatory expertise rather than compete directly.
"Spain and Europe present an unbeatable scenario, and thanks to our technological and regulatory solidity, Bit2Me is the ideal partner for financial institutions to capitalize on this environment," Casadío stated.
Bankinter's move follows similar strategic positioning by European banks seeking exposure to digital assets through licensed partners.
The exchange now plans to accelerate expansion across the European Union while reinforcing operations in Argentina and other Latin American markets.
With backing from both major Spanish financial institutions and cryptocurrency-native companies like Tether, Bit2Me represents a bridge between traditional finance and digital asset infrastructure operating under EU supervision.
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