Israel Discount Bank, the country's fourth-largest bank, is preparing to bring Bitcoin into the same app customers use to check balances and pay rent.
From 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 supply the custody infrastructure behind the scenes. For a sector that has long kept crypto at arm's length, this marks a notable shift in stance.
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 digital asset trading.
What customers actually get
Customers no longer need a separate exchange account or a hardware wallet stored somewhere at home.
That convenience comes from Fireblocks, which provides 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 lineup is short. Only Bitcoin and Ethereum are supported at launch, limiting 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 may 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. These tax adjustments are handled through deduction at source.
The bank is also sweetening the launch. Customers receive a six-month waiver on account management fees, and trading commissions are reported at 2% per trade.
The race to be Israel’s crypto bank
Discount Bank is not alone in targeting 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 an attempt to compete with unregulated platforms.
What this means
For Fireblocks, the deal is another example of the custody firm working as quiet infrastructure 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.
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