Israel’s Largest Bank Will Give Bitcoin Trading Another Try
Bank Leumi, Israel's largest bank, will let customers trade Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana inside Leumi Trade through Galaxy's trading and custody rails. It's Bank Leumi's second attempt at crypto trading, after a failed run back in 2022.
Intelligence analysis by Llama

Bank Leumi, Israel's largest bank, is giving Bitcoin trading another try through its digital investment arm, Pepper. The bank will let customers trade Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana inside Leumi Trade through Galaxy's trading and custody rails. This is Bank Leumi's second attempt at crypto trading, after a failed run back in 2022.
Imagine you have a special kind of money called Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana. Bank Leumi, Israel's biggest bank, is letting its customers trade these special monies inside a special app called Leumi Trade. This is the bank's second try at doing this, after it failed last time. The bank is working with a company called Galaxy Digital to make this happen.
Analysis
Bank Leumi's Second Attempt at Crypto Trading
Bank Leumi, Israel's largest bank, is giving Bitcoin trading another try through its digital investment arm, Pepper. This is the bank's second attempt at crypto trading, after a failed run back in 2022. The target is early 2027, still subject to Bank of Israel approval—the same gate that killed Leumi's 2022 Paxos plan.
The bank will let customers trade Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana inside Leumi Trade through Galaxy's trading and custody rails. This move is significant because it highlights the growing interest in crypto trading among traditional financial institutions. Bank Leumi's decision to partner with Galaxy Digital, a leading crypto trading and custody firm, demonstrates the bank's commitment to providing its customers with access to a wider range of investment opportunities.
The implications of this move are far-reaching. For one, it could lead to increased adoption of crypto trading among Israeli citizens. Additionally, it could pave the way for other traditional financial institutions to follow suit, potentially leading to a broader acceptance of crypto trading in the country.
However, there are also risks associated with this move. For instance, the Bank of Israel's approval is still pending, and if the bank fails to obtain it, the entire project could be derailed. Furthermore, the bank's decision to partner with Galaxy Digital raises questions about the security and regulatory compliance of the trading platform.
In conclusion, Bank Leumi's second attempt at crypto trading is a significant development in the Israeli market and the broader crypto industry. While there are risks associated with this move, the potential benefits are substantial, and it will be interesting to see how this story unfolds in the coming months.
Key points
- Bank Leumi, Israel's largest bank, is giving Bitcoin trading another try through its digital investment arm, Pepper.
- The bank will let customers trade Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana inside Leumi Trade through Galaxy's trading and custody rails.
- This is Bank Leumi's second attempt at crypto trading, after a failed run back in 2022.
- The target is early 2027, still subject to Bank of Israel approval—the same gate that killed Leumi's 2022 Paxos plan.
If Bank Leumi's second attempt at crypto trading is successful, it could lead to increased adoption of crypto trading among Israeli citizens. This could also pave the way for other traditional financial institutions to follow suit, potentially leading to a broader acceptance of crypto trading in the country.
However, there are also risks associated with this move. For instance, the Bank of Israel's approval is still pending, and if the bank fails to obtain it, the entire project could be derailed. Furthermore, the bank's decision to partner with Galaxy Digital raises questions about the security and regulatory compliance of the trading platform.
Market signals
- Bitcoin Escalation drives safe-haven demand for Bitcoin, per the article's framing of investor reaction.
- Ethereum Escalation drives safe-haven demand for Ethereum, per the article's framing of investor reaction.
- Solana Escalation drives safe-haven demand for Solana, per the article's framing of investor reaction.
AI-generated analysis of potential market relevance. Not financial advice.



