RBI and Bitpanda Expand Crypto Framework to 11 Markets
Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) has partnered with Bitpanda Enterprise to expand a shared crypto framework across its banking network in Central and Eastern Europe. The framework could eventually provide digital asset services to more than 18 million customers across 11 markets.
Bitpanda will supply infrastructure for crypto trading, custody, liquidity, payments, stablecoins and tokenisation. RBI’s individual network banks will decide which products to launch and when, based on local regulations, customer demand and operational requirements. The rollout will therefore be gradual rather than simultaneous across the region.
The crypto framework builds on a 2024 integration with an Austrian Raiffeisen bank. It allows customers to access digital assets through existing banking relationships instead of opening separate exchange accounts. RBI’s network includes about 42,000 employees and 1,300 business outlets.
The partnership strengthens Bitpanda’s institutional and white-label infrastructure business. Bitpanda reported €371 million in adjusted revenue for 2025, up 16% year on year, and 7.4 million users. However, Austria’s Financial Market Authority fined the company €70,000 in August over crypto asset white-paper and marketing breaches.
For crypto traders, the crypto framework is a positive long-term adoption signal as traditional banks gain a larger role in Europe’s regulated digital asset market. The short-term price impact is likely to remain limited because launches, supported assets and customer volumes have not been disclosed. Banks represented nearly 23% of entities on the European Securities and Markets Authority’s crypto provider register by 16 September, underscoring the sector’s institutional expansion.
Neutral
The partnership is strategically positive for crypto adoption, but it does not immediately create a clear catalyst for any specific cryptocurrency’s price. RBI’s network could bring digital asset trading, custody and related services to more than 18 million customers, potentially increasing institutional access and long-term demand. The involvement of regulated banks may also improve market confidence and liquidity over time.
In the short term, however, each bank will set its own launch schedule and product scope. No supported assets, transaction volumes or rollout dates have been confirmed. Traders are therefore unlikely to reprice the broader crypto market sharply on this announcement alone. The Bitpanda regulatory fine could also temper sentiment, although it is relatively small compared with the company’s reported revenue. Historical reactions to banking and infrastructure partnerships typically produce limited immediate price moves unless they are followed by concrete launches or measurable inflows. The expected price impact is consequently neutral, with a potentially constructive long-term adoption effect.