The Netherlands is the slowpoke in class.

Contribution from Peter

"Bitcoin could become the digital gold of the 21st century."

That statement isn’t coming from a visionary tech entrepreneur or a TikTok finfluencer. It’s coming from Deutsche Bank – one of Europe’s largest and most conservative banks. In a recent publication, French economist Marion Laboure, a macro analyst at the bank, describes bitcoin as a modern store of value. It is viewed as a safeguard against inflation, geopolitical risks, and the unpredictable policies of central banks. In short, it’s the contemporary alternative to gold.

Bitcoin could potentially become the 21st century gold

Crypto-currencies’ market cap of more than one trillion US dollars make them too important to ignore. Marion Laboure, Analyst at Deutsche Bank Research, tells us how the development of digital currencies will shape the future of payments.

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You might think that if even a giant like Deutsche Bank is voicing this, something must have shifted. And it has. What’s even more striking is that the Netherlands appears to be the only place in Europe that hasn’t caught on.

Last week, analyst Patrick Hansen published an overview of European banks active in crypto. His findings? Over fifty banks across the continent now offer crypto services such as storage, staking, trading, or payment processing. These aren’t obscure niche players – they’re major institutions. Société Générale in France boasts a fully licensed crypto division. BBVA in Spain even offers bitcoin and ether in its banking app. DZ Bank in Germany manages crypto services for hundreds of other banks. And what about Switzerland? They have full-service crypto banks where you can borrow, pay, and stake.

And what about the Netherlands?
The country is notably absent.

No ING. No ABN AMRO. No Rabobank. There’s no public stance, no experiments, no strategy. Instead, Dutch banks continue to hide behind vague risk assessments and excessive caution with regulators. It’s as if it were still 2017, when bitcoin was only for hackers, gamblers, or rebellious libertarians.

But the world has moved on.

With MiCA, Europe has finally established a clear legal framework. For the first time, banks can develop digital asset services within a regulated environment. While the United States got mired in lawsuits, enforcement, and uncertainty, Europe has clarified the rules – and that presents a unique opportunity. Europe is forging ahead, while the Netherlands lags behind, dismissing it as mere hype.

It’s a shame. And it’s a mistake.

Whether you’re a crypto enthusiast or not, the underlying trend is real. Increasingly, financial infrastructure is being built around digital assets. Those who don’t invest today will miss out tomorrow. The banks gaining expertise in custody, infrastructure, and customer needs now will soon become the gatekeepers of the new system. They aren’t mavericks; they’re established system banks – and they’ve already started.

The Netherlands isn’t trailing because it lacks the capability. We are falling behind because we’re too cautious – too afraid of reputational damage, too hesitant to move forward, and too reluctant to show public curiosity. Meanwhile, the path is clear, the technology is maturing, and customer demand is growing.

The question is: do we want to lead again, as we did with iDEAL, Tikkie, and mobile payments? Or will we later watch in disbelief as neighboring countries forge ahead with forward-thinking banking?

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