.png){kind=logo}
Israel Discount Bank plans to launch Bitcoin and Ethereum trading through its mobile banking app on November 26, 2026. The service will allow eligible customers to buy, hold, and sell both cryptocurrencies directly from their existing bank accounts.
The bank confirmed the launch on November 11, positioning itself to become Israel's first bank to introduce direct cryptocurrency trading within its banking app. Fireblocks will provide the digital asset infrastructure supporting the service.
The bank's official website confirms that the service will operate within existing investment accounts. Bitcoin and Ethereum holdings will appear alongside stocks and bonds, without requiring an external exchange account or private wallet.
Access will be limited to Israeli residents aged 18 and older with securities-enabled accounts. Customers must also sign trading agreements. The bank may add more cryptocurrencies later.
Fireblocks will provide digital asset custody infrastructure. However, the service will operate as a closed system. Customers cannot transfer cryptocurrencies to external wallets or deposit assets from other platforms. They must complete transactions through the banking app.
The bank's terms set a minimum trade of 0.01 cryptocurrency units. Trading will operate from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., Sunday through Friday. Assets will appear in customer portfolios immediately after execution, while cash settlement will occur on the next business day.
Discount Bank's official website confirms a 2% commission for purchases and sales through its app. Currency conversion fees may apply separately. The bank will also waive account management fees for the first six months after launch.
After the promotional period, a quarterly account management charge of 0.25% will apply. Proceeds from cryptocurrency sales will enter customers' accounts in USD. Customers may request conversion into Israeli shekels or another currency.
The platform will also allow customers to offset eligible cryptocurrency trading losses against gains from other investments for capital gains tax purposes. Discount Bank says its system will handle these offsets within the investment account, reducing the need for separate tax calculations.
Discount Group CEO Avi Levi said the launch would allow digital currency trading “without the need for complex, dedicated digital wallets.” He described it as an initial stage in developing the bank's digital currency operations.
Bank Leumi announced a separate cryptocurrency trading partnership with Galaxy Digital in August. The bank plans to offer Bitcoin, Ethereum and Solana through its Leumi Trade application to customers of Leumi and its PEPPER digital banking service.
Galaxy's August 14 announcement confirmed that GalaxyOne Institutional would handle trading services. Its custody infrastructure platform, previously called GK8, will support digital asset custody. Bank Leumi expects to launch the service in early 2027.
Leumi previously announced a crypto trading arrangement with Paxos in 2022, but that initiative did not reach a full launch. Discount Bank's November launch would therefore precede Leumi's current timetable.
Discount Bank also warned customers that cryptocurrency investments carry high volatility and the possibility of losing their entire investment. The bank said market conditions, limited liquidity or technical problems could restrict trading.
ALSO READ: EU Proposes Ban on Manipulative App Designs and Child-Focused Loot Boxes