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Leumi Adds Crypto Trading
Israel’s largest bank, Bank Leumi, announced a partnership with Galaxy Digital to let customers trade Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana through the Leumi Trade capital markets application, with the service expected to become available to customers in early 2027.
“The service is expected to become available to customers in early 2027.”
The companies said customers of Leumi and PEPPER, the bank’s mobile digital banking arm, will be able to buy, hold and sell selected digital assets, including Bitcoin, Ether and Solana, within a dedicated, secured section of the app.
Galaxy will provide trading and custody infrastructure, with Leumi using GalaxyOne Institutional for trading and signing an agreement with Galaxy’s Custody Infrastructure platform, formerly known as GK8, to support the bank’s digital asset infrastructure.
In a statement, Maya Ravia, Head of Strategy at Bank Leumi, said, "We believe that digital assets are gradually becoming an integral part of the global financial system."
Galaxy Israel CEO Lior Lamesh added, "The future of finance will run on open, programmable rails, and we believe the banks that move first will define the era that follows."
Second Attempt, Regulatory Gate
Decrypt said the Leumi-Galaxy plan is Bank Leumi’s second attempt at crypto trading, after a failed run in 2022, and noted that the target for availability is early 2027 "still subject to Bank of Israel approval."
Decrypt described how the 2022 effort stalled because the necessary regulatory sign-off never came and that the deal stalled "at the Bank of Israel," leaving the earlier Paxos plan unable to launch.
Decrypt tied the new push to changes in mid-2026, including when the Bank of Israel removed automatic delays on crypto-linked deposits above NIS 100,000 and when the Capital Market Authority set wallet-security and capital standards, including "2 million New Israeli Shekels for non-custody firms" and "2.5 million New Israeli Shekels with custody."
Decrypt also said an August 1 circular opened trading to the top 50 coins by market cap above a $500 million threshold, creating a regulated, lower-friction on-ramp for banks like Leumi to bring crypto directly to retail customers.
In the same report, Galaxy Israel CEO Lior Lamesh framed the move as banks adopting open rails, saying, "Leumi is the first bank in Israel to bring digital assets to its customers, and it chose Galaxy, to make it possible."
Who Gets Access, What’s at Risk
Multiple outlets said the rollout is designed for retail access through Leumi’s apps, with customers of Leumi and PEPPER able to buy, hold and sell Bitcoin, Ether and Solana through a dedicated section of the Leumi Trade app.
“The planned launch would make Bank Leumi the first bank in Israel to offer digital asset trading directly to its customers.”
CoinDesk reported that the planned launch would make Bank Leumi the first bank in Israel to offer digital asset trading directly to its customers, while also noting that the companies did not disclose commercial terms, fees or customer eligibility requirements.
CoinGape said the setup aims to combine crypto exposure with banking-grade controls and security, and it described GalaxyOne Institutional as providing trading and custody infrastructure to support Bank Leumi’s digital asset operations.
Cointelegraph added that the partnership comes after Galaxy reported an $85 million net loss in the second quarter, which it attributed largely to declining digital asset prices, while Galaxy’s digital assets business generated $66 million in adjusted gross profit, up 34% from the previous quarter.
In the PR Newswire announcement, Bank Leumi said the initiative enables customers to access trading digital assets through one of the world’s leading technological infrastructures, and it positioned the move as a significant pillar of its innovation strategy.
