Israel Discount Bank opens in-app Bitcoin trading on November 26

Israel Discount Bank, the country’s fourth-largest bank, is about to put Bitcoin in the same app where customers check their balance and pay rent.

Starting November 26, 2026, eligible customers will be able to buy, hold, and sell Bitcoin and Ethereum directly through the bank’s mobile app. Fireblocks will provide the custody infrastructure behind the scenes. For a sector that has spent years keeping crypto at arm’s length, that is a notable change in posture.

The bank announced the service on November 11, 2026. According to the research findings, it is the first time an Israeli bank has offered direct in-app trading of digital assets.

What customers actually get

Customers no longer need a separate exchange login or a hardware wallet in a drawer somewhere.

That convenience comes from Fireblocks, which supplies the digital asset infrastructure and wallet custody. Because Fireblocks holds the keys on the bank’s behalf, customers do not need their own external crypto wallets.

The initial menu is short. Only Bitcoin and Ethereum are supported at launch, which keeps the offering to the two largest and most familiar digital assets.

Eligibility is also defined. The service targets private customers aged 18 and older who hold securities-enabled accounts.

The tax feature might be the real headline

Discount Bank’s service will let clients offset capital gains and losses from their digital asset trades against other investments in their portfolio. Those tax adjustments are handled through deduction at source.

The bank is also sweetening the launch. Customers get a six-month waiver on account management fees. Trading commissions are reported at 2% per trade.

The race to be Israel’s crypto bank

Discount Bank is not alone in eyeing this market. It is simply first through the door.

Bank Leumi is expected to launch a similar service in early 2027 through its Pepper app. That gives Discount Bank a head start measured in weeks to months, not years.

The research findings frame Discount Bank’s move as a response to rising demand and a bid to challenge unregulated platforms.

What this means

For Fireblocks, the deal is another example of the custody firm acting as the quiet infrastructure layer behind traditional finance’s crypto ambitions. Banks generally do not want to build key management from scratch, and outsourcing it lets them move faster.

Customers using bank custody will not hold their own keys. The asset menu is limited to two coins for now, and the reported 2% commission may matter more as trading volumes grow and the promotional fee waiver expires after six months.