BitPanda Will Now Offer Stocks, ETFs Amid “Universal Exchange” Ambitions

• Bitpanda is planning to add 10,000 stocks and ETFs to its app from January 29.
• The expansion will move the firm from being crypto-focused to being a universal exchange.
• After the full launch, users will be able to trade traditional assets alongside crypto with a flat fee of 1 euro.

Platforms are now fighting to become a “one in all” hub for users, and Bitpanda is the latest to join the fray. According to reports, starting January 29, the Vienna-based company will open access to 10,000 stocks and ETFs. 

This change would allow investors to manage their entire portfolio within a single application.

Bitpanda Expands Into Stocks and ETFs

Bitpanda is targeting the European Union with its latest rollout of “real stocks.” What this means is that, unlike some competitors that use tokenised versions, these are actual securities. 

This move would also help the firm compete with traditional brokers while retaining its crypto-native audience.

BitPanda is also doing this with simplicity in mind, as trading these assets will incur a flat fee of only 1 euro per transaction. 

The company also confirmed that there will be no custody charges or withdrawal fees for these products. In all, this transparency is in place to attract retail investors who are tired of hidden costs. 

The Universal Exchange Race Hits Europe

Bitpanda’s decision to expand comes amid similar moves by other giants in the game, such as Kraken and Coinbase. 

Kraken recently launched over 11,000 US-listed stocks to bring digital assets and equities together. Coinbase also followed suit by rebranding its wallet as an “everything app.” 

All of these companies expanding this way have been described by research firms like Delphi Digital as the “super app” race.

Within this new system, value is moving from the protocols themselves to the platforms that have the most users. Bitpanda already serves over 7 million registered customers across Europe, making it a one-stop shop by offering 650 crypto assets alongside thousands of stocks.

This helps the firm stay relevant, even if the general crypto market starts to pull back from the “up-only” phase.

Regulation is a major part of this expansion too, as the firm operates under the Markets in Crypto Assets framework in Europe (also known as MiCA). It even holds licenses that cover the European Economic Area and the United Kingdom. 

This legal foundation is what gives users confidence that their money is safe.

New Tools for Modern Portfolio Management

The new offering includes roughly 8,000 equities and 2,500 ETFs for both full and fractional investors. 

As context, fractional investing is helpful for people who cannot afford a whole share of expensive companies. Automatic tax withholding will also be available for users in Germany and Austria from the start. 

Additionally, beyond just trading, the firm is also building out its infrastructure. They recently added 830 megawatts of power to their Helios data centre, which helps them manage the data needs of an international exchange. 

They are also working with Deutsche Bank to launch new custody services. 

Preparing for the Future of Investing

As the fintech industry matures, the barriers between different asset classes are disappearing. 

This means that users no longer want to jump between five different apps to check their investments. Instead, they want a clean and fast interface that handles everything. 

Markets are also watching the $5 billion valuation target for the upcoming IPO success in the stock and ETF space. 

If this happens, it will likely boost the company’s value before the listing, and Goldman Sachs and Citigroup are already working to arrange the deal. 

In all, Bitpanda is transitioning from a simple crypto broker to a universal exchange.