The global financial landscape is constantly evolving, and Spain is positioning itself as a key market in the adoption of cryptocurrencies. In this context, Boerse Stuttgart Digital, the leading crypto infrastructure partner in Europe, has taken a strategic step by establishing its official presence in Madrid. To better understand this important expansion and the vision behind it, Joaquín Sastre Ibáñez, Managing Director for Spain and Head of Institutional Business at Boerse Stuttgart Digital, shares his insights on this milestone and what it means for the Spanish market.  

Boerse Stuttgart Digital enters the “vibrant” Spanish market 

Boerse Stuttgart Digital has arrived in Spain - what an exciting time! What does this entry into the Spanish market mean for you and for the company? 

Joaquín Sastre: Thank you very much! It's an honor and a great responsibility to lead this milestone. For me, personally, it's a return home with an expansion I'm passionate about. For Boerse Stuttgart Digital, the opening of our Madrid office in 2025 is a natural and strategic step. Spain is a vibrant market, with a demand for regulated infrastructure solutions in the cryptocurrency space. We see a clear opportunity to be the trusted institutional-grade and strategic crypto infrastructure partner that financial institutions need to navigate this new era. It's a firm commitment to Southern Europe. 

That strategic vision resonates with your own career path. You've transitioned from engineering and consulting to becoming a relevant figure in the crypto space. How has this experience prepared you for your current role at Boerse Stuttgart Digital, and what specifically attracted you to the company? 

Joaquín Sastre:  My path has been a mix of curiosity and a search for impact. Engineering gave me an analytical and problem-solving foundation, while consulting taught me to understand the needs of large corporations and to structure solutions to complex problems. My experience at BitGo and Xapo was fundamental to immersing myself in the institutional infrastructure business for digital assets, from custody to trading, and to understanding regulatory and adoption challenges. 

What attracted me to Boerse Stuttgart Digital is precisely its ability to build a real bridge between traditional finance and the digital future. We are not a startup; we are the innovative arm of a group with 160 years of experience in financial markets. This allows us to offer the solidity, trust, and "Made in Germany" regulated solutions that financial institutions need to enter this space safely. It's the perfect combination of innovative agility and institutional backing. 

MiCAR license: Building Bridges Through Regulation 

Speaking of security and regulation, Boerse Stuttgart Digital is a pioneer in obtaining the MiCAR license in Germany. Why is this regulation so crucial for the Spanish market and how does it benefit financial institutions like banks, brokers, and asset managers that collaborate with you? 

Joaquín Sastre: Given that this license is an essential requirement to operate legally in Europe for services such as crypto-asset custody and trading, having been the first to obtain it in Germany not only allows us to comply with regulations but also to position ourselves as a reliable partner to guide Spanish entities in their integration within this harmonized regulatory framework. As the first German provider to obtain this license, we can operate with a "passport" throughout the European Union, which allows us to offer Spanish partners maximum legal certainty and regulatory compliance. MiCAR provides a clear and harmonized framework that facilitates the institutional adoption of digital assets, and Boerse Stuttgart Digital is in a privileged position to guide Spanish entities in this new environment. Ultimately, regulation is not only about compliance — it ensures protection and clarity for all users, whether institutions, corporates, or individual customers. 

Spain: Growing crypto market with high potential for financial institutions 

The Spanish cryptocurrency market is growing strongly. A US study projects it will reach USD 4.7 Billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 16.2% from now until 2030. What specific opportunities do you see in Spain and how does Boerse Stuttgart Digital plan to contribute to its maturation? 

Joaquín Sastre: Spain is a market with enormous potential. We have seen not only exponential growth in cryptocurrency ownership among Spanish adults but also rising institutional demand, confirmed through ongoing dialogue with key financial players. Additionally, the implementation of MiCAR is creating a much clearer regulatory environment. This, coupled with the growing demand from retail customers for secure ways to invest in digital assets – market studies project over 50% crypto adoption rate in Spain by 2025 – creates a unique opportunity. 

Our contribution focuses on enabling large institutions – banks, brokers, asset managers – to offer secure and reliable solutions to their clients. By providing modular trading and custody solutions, we facilitate the integration of cryptocurrencies into their existing offerings, always under a high standard multi-layer security concept backed by ISO certification and full regulatory compliance. Furthermore, we want to raise awareness about the importance of regulation and technical competence in this space. 

Raising awareness and fostering technical competence are aspects that go beyond transactional matters. We know that, outside the professional sphere, you have multiple interests, from entrepreneurship to sports. How do these facets influence your approach at Boerse Stuttgart Digital and that broader vision you mentioned? 

Joaquín Sastre:  I believe that a diversity of interests greatly enriches one's perspective. My entrepreneurial initiatives have taught me the importance of agility, resilience, and adaptability, essential qualities in a sector as dynamic as digital assets. Tourism and fashion, though seemingly distant, have given me a customer-centric and user experience-focused vision, something we apply to make the integration of digital assets and cryptocurrencies as seamless as possible for our partners. 

And sports, for me, is a metaphor for the professional sphere: discipline, teamwork, setting goals, and perseverance. It keeps me energized and clear-minded. Ultimately, it all comes down to a mindset of continuous learning, innovation, and the pursuit of excellence, values that I fully share with Boerse Stuttgart Digital. 

Modular one-stop shop for fully regulated trading and custody in Spain and across Europe 

To conclude and looking towards that future, what is your long-term vision for Boerse Stuttgart Digital in Spain and in Europe? 

Joaquín Sastre:  Our vision is clear: to consolidate our position as the market leader in cryptocurrencies and largest digital business amongst all European exchange groups. We are the fully regulated "one-stop-shop" for trading and custody, driving the maturation of the sector. In Spain, we aspire to be the trusted gateway for all financial institutions that wish to enter the space, facilitating secure and reliable access to cryptocurrencies for millions of clients. 

We are building the bridge between traditional finance and the digital future, and we are doing so with the solidity, experience, and trust that only a company like Group Boerse Stuttgart can offer. We are here to lead this transformation in a safe and responsible manner. 

Do you want to provide your Spanish customers with secure and regulated access to cryptocurrencies? As the infrastructure partner to banks, brokers, asset managers and corporates, Boerse Stuttgart Digital offers a fully regulated, modular one-stop-shop for trading and custody in Spain and across Europe. If you’re interested, contact us and let’s discuss how we can support your first or next steps in the crypto market!