IG Group is taking its spot crypto trading business to Europe. The UK-based broker launched the service in Britain last year and is now opening it up to European investors, using infrastructure from Bitpanda, the Vienna-based crypto exchange. The move puts IG in a growing crowd of traditional brokers trying to capture retail crypto demand without building everything from scratch.
How the expansion works
European clients on IG's platform will be able to buy and sell a range of cryptocurrencies directly — not via derivatives or CFDs. Bitpanda provides the backend: custody, liquidity, execution. That lets IG skip the heavy lifting of building its own crypto rails. The companies didn't disclose the exact list of coins or the rollout timeline, but the integration is live now for eligible users.
Why Bitpanda
Bitpanda has been pushing its infrastructure-as-a-service model for a while. It already powers crypto offerings for banks and fintechs across Europe. For IG, picking an existing partner means faster time to market and a regulated setup — Bitpanda holds licenses in Austria and other EU markets. The deal follows a pattern: brokers don't want to be crypto exchanges, but they want to offer crypto. Outsourcing makes sense if the partner is solid.
What this means for European investors
IG has a big retail client base in Europe, especially in Germany, France, and the Nordics. Those users previously could trade forex, stocks, and CFDs through IG, but not spot crypto. Now they get a one-stop shop. The catch: IG's fees and spreads haven't been published for the European rollout yet. UK users pay a spread of around 1% on bitcoin trades, which is competitive with mainstream brokers but higher than dedicated exchanges like Coinbase or Kraken.
This isn't a surprise. IG said at its last earnings call that crypto was a growth priority. The UK pilot gave it data on demand and operational kinks. Now it's scaling. The timing works — crypto markets have been relatively stable in 2026, and regulatory clarity in the EU under MiCA makes it easier for brokers to enter. IG isn't the first traditional broker to go this route. But it's one of the bigger names, and the Bitpanda partnership gives it a tested engine. The next question: will IG push into Asia or the US next? No word yet.
