Bank Leumi has tapped Galaxy Digital to provide crypto trading and custody for its consumer investing app, positioning the bank to become the first Israeli lender to offer digital-asset trading directly to customers. Availability is targeted for early 2027.
A first for an Israeli bank
Leumi plans to offer Bitcoin, Ether, and Solana trading to customers of both Bank Leumi and Pepper, its digital banking arm, inside the Leumi Trade capital-markets app. That makes it the first Israeli bank to move into digital-asset trading through a mainstream consumer channel, though the bank hasn't said when exactly the feature will go live beyond the early 2027 window.
The stack: GalaxyOne and GK8
Galaxy will handle the heavy lifting. Trading runs through GalaxyOne Institutional, the firm's prime brokerage platform, while custody sits with Galaxy's Custody Infrastructure, formerly known as GK8. Galaxy reported roughly $9 billion of assets on its platform as of March 31, 2026, giving Leumi a partner with an existing footprint in institutional crypto services.
Regulatory tailwind
The move comes as Israel's central bank signals a more open stance. On July 14, the Bank of Israel published a draft update clarifying expectations for payment services tied to virtual assets, a step that points to regulatory support for expansion in the space. Leumi's announcement follows that draft, though it doesn't cite it directly.
What's still unknown
Leumi hasn't disclosed fees, transaction limits, or whether additional assets will be added beyond the initial three. The bank also hasn't said how it will handle the inevitable wrinkles of crypto trading in a regulated banking environment — or when the feature will actually appear in the app. For now, the plan is set, but the fine print is still to come.
