On August 14, Bank Leumi of Israel announced a partnership with Galaxy Digital, enabling customers of the bank and its mobile division, PEPPER, to trade Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana.
The digital assets will be accessible through a secure section of the Leumi Trade app, with the service set to launch in early 2027, according to the press release.
Galaxy will provide the technological foundation, as Bank Leumi will utilize the institutional platform GalaxyOne and the custodial service Custody Infrastructure (formerly known as GK8).
“This initiative is a key part of our innovation strategy. It will provide clients with simple, secure, and regulated access to trading digital assets on one of the world's leading technology platforms,” stated Maya Ravia, a senior executive at the financial institution.
She noted that cryptocurrencies are “gradually becoming an integral part of the global financial system.” The bank's goal is to enable clients to engage with these assets within a regulated banking framework.
Bank Leumi had previously attempted to enter the retail crypto market. In March 2022, the Pepper Invest platform announced a partnership with stablecoin issuer Paxos, aiming to facilitate Bitcoin and Ethereum transactions with a minimum investment threshold of 50 shekels (approximately $15.50). The parties indicated that the launch would occur after obtaining necessary regulatory approvals, but the bank later did not announce the service's start.
According to Chainalysis, around $22 billion flowed into Israel through on-chain channels in the year leading up to June 2025.
The growth in the MENA region was 33% year-over-year, which is lower than the increases seen in APAC (69%) and Latin America (63%). However, analysts noted a steady rise in retail activity in the country after October 2023, with actual volumes exceeding forecasts by an average of 60.4%.
Source: Chainalysis.It is worth mentioning that in April 2026, Israel's Capital Markets Authority issued a license for the issuance of a stablecoin pegged to the shekel, with the issuer being the exchange Bits of Gold.