Key Highlights
- Israel’s largest financial institution, Bank Leumi, will enable cryptocurrency trading for Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana through its Leumi Trade application
- The crypto trading feature is scheduled to roll out in early 2027 for both Leumi and Pepper mobile banking users
- Galaxy Digital’s GalaxyOne Institutional platform will supply the necessary trading infrastructure
- Digital asset security will be managed through Galaxy’s custody solution, previously operating as GK8
- This initiative positions Leumi as Israel’s pioneering bank to deliver crypto trading services to everyday consumers
In a groundbreaking move for Israel’s financial sector, Bank Leumi has forged a strategic alliance with Galaxy Digital to introduce cryptocurrency trading capabilities to its customer base. The launch is slated for early 2027.
Users of both Leumi and Pepper, the bank’s digital-first banking division, will gain the ability to purchase, store, and liquidate Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana. These transactions will be facilitated through a specially designed crypto section within the Leumi Trade application.
The technical backbone for these trading operations will come from Galaxy Digital’s GalaxyOne Institutional solution. Meanwhile, asset protection and storage will be handled by Galaxy’s custody technology, which previously operated under the GK8 brand name.
With a customer base spanning millions across both retail and commercial banking segments, Leumi emphasizes that this move establishes it as Israel’s first traditional banking institution to provide direct cryptocurrency trading services to its clientele.
The Rationale Behind the Asset Selection
The selection of these three digital currencies mirrors current trends in institutional cryptocurrency adoption. Bitcoin and Ethereum maintain their positions as the two dominant cryptocurrencies measured by total market capitalization. Solana has experienced accelerating adoption among institutional market participants.
Galaxy has already developed extensive infrastructure supporting Solana operations. The firm operates as a validator and staking service provider for investment products connected to the Solana blockchain.
The GalaxyOne Institutional platform consolidates trading capabilities, asset custody, staking services, financing options, and market research into a unified solution. This architecture aims to deliver cryptocurrency exposure to banking clients while maintaining institutional-grade security protocols.
Galaxy’s Expansion in Traditional Banking Partnerships
This agreement with Leumi represents another component of Galaxy Digital’s comprehensive institutional expansion strategy. The company has been actively cultivating banking partnerships in various geographic markets.
Galaxy recently broadened its collaboration with BNY to incorporate institutional staking capabilities into BNY’s cryptocurrency platform. This integration enables clients to maintain custody and stake digital assets through a streamlined process.
Earlier in July, Galaxy finalized a naming rights agreement with Texas Tech University, establishing itself as the official data center and digital assets partner for the university’s athletics program.
Following its Nasdaq debut in May 2025, Galaxy Digital has been trading under the ticker symbol GLXY. On Friday, shares were priced at $21.38, representing approximately 2% growth for the day, though down roughly 25% year-over-year.
The firm reported an $85 million net loss for the second quarter, attributing the shortfall to declining cryptocurrency valuations. However, its digital assets division generated $66 million in adjusted gross profit, marking a 34% increase compared to the prior quarter.
Under the leadership of founder and CEO Mike Novogratz, Galaxy has maintained its institutional expansion trajectory despite recent stock price declines.
The addition of Leumi represents another significant banking partnership in Galaxy’s expanding portfolio of institutional clients. The service remains on schedule for its early 2027 debut, subject to final implementation of trading and custody systems.
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