Turkey’s Garanti BBVA commercial bank launches crypto wallet service

As an analyst with a background in fintech and cybersecurity, I’m excited to see Garanti BBVA leading the way in Turkey’s crypto market by launching its own cryptocurrency wallet. This development underscores the bank’s commitment to staying at the forefront of the rapidly evolving fintech landscape.


Starting today, Garanti BBVA clients based in Turkey can make use of a freshly introduced cryptocurrency wallet. With this innovative offering, individuals can now easily buy, sell, and safely keep Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and USD Coin (USDC) assets.

Garanti BBVA’s crypto offering 

As a crypto investor, I’m excited to share that Garanti BBVA Digital Assets, a subsidy of Garanti BBVA Financial Technologies Inc., has recently introduced a new crypto wallet service on their mobile platform, which is now called Garanti BBVA Crypto. This means that I can easily manage my digital assets through the Garanti BBVA mobile app, making my investment journey more convenient and efficient.

As a financial analyst, I would describe this event as follows: For the first time in Turkey’s financial landscape, a bank subsidiary has taken the lead in designing and introducing a cryptocurrency wallet on its own accord.

As a crypto investor, I’m thrilled to share that the platform now supports the transfer and storage of three popular cryptocurrencies: Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and USD Coin (USDC). This means I can easily manage my investments in these digital assets without having to use multiple wallets or exchanges.

The crypto wallet introduced by Garanti BBVA signifies part of their plan to stay ahead in the fast-evolving fintech industry. The bank has been immersed in blockchain technology and cryptocurrency services for some time, recognizing their capability to drastically transform the financial landscape.

For iOS users, there’s a wallet app on the App Store that offers advanced security and facilitates digital transactions.

Çağrı Süzer, Executive Vice President at Garanti BBVA and Chair of the BBVA Digital Assets Board of Directors, reported successful completion of trials for the innovative new service.

Süzer mentioned that as of now, the Garanti BBVA Crypto app, which was previously only available in beta to a select group of customers, is open to everyone. He went on to share that the app currently caters to Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and US Dollar Coin (USDC) cryptocurrencies, but the bank intends to broaden its offerings and improve its support structures in the future.

As an analyst, I would express it this way: With Turkey’s increasing appetite for cryptocurrencies, I believe Garanti BBVA’s introduction of a crypto wallet is a strategic move to cater to this growing demand.

Crypto adoption rises, but challenges abound

In the year 2022, the cryptocurrency market experienced a significant surge in thefts, with cybercriminals making off with more than $3.8 billion in stolen digital assets. This alarming trend highlights the importance of reliable and secure custodians for crypto assets.

Modern banks now provide digital asset management services, ensuring a trustworthy and safe experience for their clients.

The rising number of hacking incidents has had a profound effect on the cryptocurrency sector, leading to substantial financial damages for investors and urging regulatory bodies to push for stronger protections for consumers.

Based on Chainalysis’ findings, decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols accounted for a staggering 82.1% of the cryptocurrency that was stolen in reported incidents. Bridge protocols, which facilitate cross-chain transactions, were notably vulnerable due to the centralized pools of funds they create, making them attractive targets for hackers.

The market for cryptocurrencies has experienced a series of major thefts, cyberattacks, and deceptive practices, resulting in significant financial damages for both individual investors and digital currency exchanges.

Based on data from Immunefi’s report, nearly all cryptocurrency thefts (approximately 95%) result from hacking activities. The remainder of the losses can be attributed to fraudulent schemes and other types of scams.

As a financial analyst, I would rephrase that statement as follows: I. Traditional banks are transitioning from being simple financial intermediaries to becoming trusted guardians of cryptocurrency assets. II. To achieve this, they’re introducing custodial services specifically designed for digital assets. III. This shift aims to provide clients with a secure environment to manage their crypto holdings.

Beginning in January, Binance users were presented with the opportunity to hold their assets in secure accounts managed by reputable Swiss financial institutions such as Sygnum Bank and Flow Bank. This change signified a departure from the earlier method of keeping assets either on the Binance exchange itself or with less recognized entities.

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2024-06-16 19:44