On February 3, ING Deutschland (ING Germany) launched access for retail customers to invest in cryptocurrency-related Exchange Traded Notes (ETNs/ETPs) via its Direct Depot platform. The offering supports investments in digital assets including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana. ING noted the products are physically backed instruments issued by firms like 21Shares, Bitwise, and VanEck, and trade on regulated exchanges. This lets clients gain exposure to cryptocurrencies without managing wallets or private keys themselves. The bank also warned these products carry risks such as price volatility, issuer risk, liquidity issues, and regulatory uncertainty. It added that in Germany, the tax treatment for these ETNs mirrors directly holding cryptocurrencies — holdings of over one year may qualify for a capital gains tax exemption. (Source: The Block)
