Background: Are Bitcoin & Co. on their way to the mainstream?
For a long time, cryptocurrencies were considered unsuitable for private investors. The high volatility of prices, lack of regulation, and use in financing illegal activities on the darknet deterred even institutional investors for a long time. By now, Bitcoin & Co. have long since shaken off their shady image and are seeing substantial inflows from private investors as well. There are clear regulatory framework conditions since the introduction of the MiCA Regulation (Markets in Crypto-Assets). In recent years, above all neobrokers (e.g., Trade Republic), specialized trading platforms (Bitpanda, Kraken), and the BISON app (Börse Stuttgart) have opened up cryptocurrencies to private investors. Sparkassen also plan to enter this business. Some VR banks are already doing so.
Survey Results:
Regarding the existing information obligations about the risks of investments in cryptocurrencies on the part of providers, the picture is balanced. About 44% of survey participants each consider the existing disclosure obligations sufficient or insufficient, respectively. However, only a minority of panelists (about 39%) favor tighter regulation of this segment. “Given the risk of high losses, transparency and professional advice are crucial for functioning investor protection,” Brühl adds.
Overall, almost 63% of respondents expect cryptocurrencies to continue establishing themselves among private investors in the medium term. By contrast, about 30% of respondents assume that sharp price declines could dampen customer interest again.
“The results show that cryptocurrencies are increasingly arriving in the everyday lives of private investors. At the same time, the differentiated assessment of the respondents is an important signal: as adoption grows, transparency, understandable information, and qualified advice must keep pace. The fact that a majority expects further establishment underscores the potential of digital assets, provided that opportunities and risks are weighed responsibly,” says Hubertus Väth, Managing Director of Frankfurt Main Finance.
Source: CFS Press release from 27 October 2026
