Bank Leumi, Israel’s largest financial institution, has partnered with Galaxy Digital Inc. (Nasdaq: GLXY) to launch digital asset trading services, making it the first bank in the country to offer such capabilities to retail customers. The partnership was announced on August 14, 2026, and will leverage Galaxy’s institutional infrastructure to provide secure, regulated access to cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin, Ether, and Solana through the bank’s Leumi Trade capital markets application and PEPPER mobile banking platform starting in early 2027.

  • Launch Timeline: Early 2027
  • Supported Assets: Bitcoin, Ether, Solana
  • Trading Platform: Leumi Trade capital markets application
  • Galaxy Services: GalaxyOne Institutional trading platform and GK8 custody infrastructure

The bank will utilize GalaxyOne Institutional, Galaxy’s institutional-grade trading platform designed for banks and asset managers, alongside the firm’s Custody Infrastructure platform, formerly known as GK8, to support digital asset storage and operations. The trading service will operate within a dedicated, secured section of the Leumi Trade app, ensuring customers can buy, hold, and sell digital assets within a regulated banking framework.

We believe that digital assets are gradually becoming an integral part of the global financial system, and it is our role to enable customers to benefit from this development within a reliable, secure, and regulated banking framework.

Maya Ravia, Head of Strategy at Bank Leumi, characterized the initiative as a significant pillar of the bank’s innovation strategy, emphasizing that it reflects the institution’s commitment to expanding advanced financial services.

Lior Lamesh, CEO of Galaxy Israel, stated that Leumi’s decision to adopt Galaxy’s platform underscores the company’s position as a foundational infrastructure provider for institutional digital asset adoption in Israel and globally. The partnership reflects broader trends of traditional financial institutions integrating cryptocurrency trading into mainstream banking operations, capitalizing on growing institutional and retail demand for digital asset exposure.

Lior Lamesh, CEO of Galaxy Israel. Source: LinkedIn

By Gavriel Gavrielides

Gavriel Gavrielides is the Founder and Chief Editor of fintech-intelligence. An ACA-qualified finance executive, he previously served as Group CFO and Global Head of Accounting & Finance for a major international Forex broker with over 800 employees, following a foundational career as an auditor at a Big Four firm. Having spent over 15 years navigating complex international regulatory frameworks, scaling financial infrastructure, and managing global corporate strategies, Gavriel launched fintech-intelligence because he recognized that the traditional boundaries between finance and technology have completely dissolved. He saw a critical need for an industry publication driven by actual operational expertise rather than outside commentary. Today, Gavriel leverages his deep institutional background to cut through the market noise, delivering high-signal, deeply analytical insights into the technologies, regulations, and innovations reshaping the future of money. Connect with Gavriel on https://www.linkedin.com/in/gavriel-gavrielides-103734124/