German holding company Bitcoin Group SE has acquired a 100 percent stake in investment bank Tremmel Wertpapierhandelsbank GmbH, Cointelegraph auf Deutsch reports today, Nov. 13.
Bitcoin Group SE, based in Herford, Germany, operates what is reportedly the country’s only regulated crypto exchange, Bitcoin Deutschland AG, also referred to by its domain, Bitcoin.de. Upon acquisition of the banking institution, which according to its website focuses on securities trading, the crypto holding will in turn obtain the use of Tremmel’s banking license.
As a press release from Bitcoin Group SE states, the banking license will allow the holding to “significantly expand” its crypto-related offerings and operate ATMs for cryptocurrencies in Germany, stating it would be able to:
“[...]issue its own cryptocurrency products, carry out proprietary trading in cryptocurrencies, and operate cryptocurrency ATMs is now available under the securities service provider's banking license.”
Tremmel’s managing director, Rainer Bergmann, will continue to be responsible for the bank and expand it into a custodian bank together with Bitcoin Group SE, the release notes.
According to the press release, the purchase price for Tremmel is "in the lower seven-digit euro range.” The release notes that the closing is set to be completed in the first half of 2019, pending relevant regulatory approval.
At the end of October, Germany saw the establishment of its first Bitcoin ATM, set up in a Munich gambling hall.
Today, Cointelegraph reported that publicly-traded Canadian holding firm GoverMedia Plus Canada is set to acquire U.K.-based crypto exchange EXMO, both parties having recently signed a Letter of Intent (LOI).