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Ita\u00fa Unibanco, Brazil and Latin America’s biggest bank has opened Bitcoin and crypto trading to over 60 million customers, as per reports<\/a>.<\/p>\n BREAKING: \ud83c\udde7\ud83c\uddf7 60,000,000 customers at Brazil's largest bank can now start buying #Bitcoin<\/a> and crypto.<\/p>\n Gradually then suddenly \ud83d\ude4c pic.twitter.com\/KXSjPLFzCP<\/a><\/p>\n — Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) June 12, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n The bank’s investment app, Ion, now allows users to buy and sell Bitcoin and Ethereum after initially offering crypto trading to only select clients in December 2023<\/a>.<\/p>\n In an interview, Ita\u00fa digital assets head Guto Antunes said the move followed weekly surveys, with initial users showing strong demand for Bitcoin and crypto services.\u00a0<\/p>\n While not disclosing user numbers, Antunes said the Ion app has surpassed 3.5 million downloads, which is significant interest for Bitcoin and crypto in Brazil.<\/a><\/p>\n The bank opted to build its custody solution for clients’ wallets rather than using third parties. Each user gets a separate wallet to ensure asset segregation.<\/p>\n As Brazil’s largest bank with extensive reach, opening Bitcoin access will boost mainstream adoption. With Bitcoin’s popularity in Brazil, the bank aims to be their preferred gateway into this new asset class.<\/p>\n The embrace of Bitcoin and crypto by a conservatively regulated institution like Ita\u00fa also further validates Bitcoin as an investable innovation that is here to stay. More banks in the region may follow suit.<\/p>\n For bitcoiners in Brazil, buying and selling through their existing bank provides accessibility and removes adoption hurdles. Ita\u00fa opening the floodgates marks a milestone in Bitcoin’s financial mainstreaming in a major Latin America<\/a>n economy.<\/p>\n\n