Bank Leumi is teaming up with Galaxy Digital to bring crypto trading to Israel. Starting in early 2027, Leumi will become the first bank in the country to offer digital asset trading services. Whether you are using the main Leumi app or its mobile-only bank, PEPPER, you’ll be able to buy, hold, and sell Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana right from the Leumi Trade platform.
The integration places crypto trading alongside traditional stocks and bonds, leveraging the trust and convenience of Israel’s leading financial institution.
A second act fueled by regulatory progress
This is not Leumi’s first foray into crypto. A similar 2022 attempt with Paxos was shelved after the Bank of Israel withheld approval. Since then, though, things have changed quite a bit.
Since then, Israel has really stepped up by creating clear rules for crypto businesses, making it much easier for banks to get involved. Though final approval from the central bank is still required before the service goes live, the environment is way more open to crypto now than it was a few years back.
Infrastructure and ambition
The partnership relies on Galaxy’s institutional-grade infrastructure. Bank Leumi will utilize GalaxyOne Institutional for trading services and Galaxy’s Custody Infrastructure platform, formerly GK8, for secure private key and asset management.
With Galaxy Digital managing around $9 billion for its clients, the goal here is to make the whole experience secure, regulated, and super simple for users.
Maya Ravia, the Head of Strategy at Bank Leumi, called this a huge part of their innovation plan. She’s focused on giving customers a way to get into digital assets while staying within a banking framework they already trust.
This move offers a compelling model for other traditional financial institutions considering similar integrations.
How crypto adoption reaches critical mass in Israel
Bank Leumi’s partnership isn’t happening in isolation; it’s landing in a market where crypto is already mainstream, but it’s not exactly known for it, of course.
Roughly 21 percent of Israeli adults currently hold digital assets, placing the country among the global leaders in crypto adoption, ahead of nations like the U.S., with 15 to 24 percent, and rivaling top adopters like the United Arab Emirates.
Demand is palpable. A staggering 59 percent of non-holders say they’d invest if the experience was as regulated and accessible as a traditional bank account. Clearly, Leumi is getting the timing just right.
The regulatory climate has really turned a corner, too. Back in July 2026, the Bank of Israel put out new guidelines that stopped banks from just saying ‘no’ to crypto services, which is the green light Leumi needed for their 2027 launch.
Plus, Israel has fully adopted the Financial Action Task Force “Travel Rule,” and is working on its own shekel-backed stablecoin, BILS. All of this just shows how much digital assets are becoming a normal part of the country’s financial landscape.
On top of that, Israel’s fully on board with the Financial Action Task Force’s “Travel Rule,” and they are even working on their own shekel-backed stablecoin, BILS. Digital assets are becoming a regular part of everyday life in Israel’s financial scene.
