bunq Opens Banking-as-a-Service Platform to EU Businesses
On Apr 29, 2026, bunq, Europe's second-largest neobank, announced a partnership with Dutch Bitcoin platform Blockrise under bunq's new Banking-as-a-Service offering. Blockrise is the first company to use the platform. The collaboration enables Blockrise users to access Bitcoin services through embedded bank accounts, starting in the Netherlands.
Fiat deposits are protected up to €100,000 by the Dutch Deposit Guarantee Scheme through bunq's European banking license. bunq's BaaS platform provides its open API, handling compliance and security requirements so partners can build consumer-facing products on regulated infrastructure. Blockrise, founded in 2017, is regulated by the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets under MiCAR and offers trading, asset management, and Bitcoin-backed loans.
- bunq's entry as a BaaS provider adds meaningful licensed competition in the EU embedded finance market, potentially challenging incumbents like Solarisbank and Banking Circle.
- The integration of MiCAR-regulated crypto on-ramps via Blockrise signals growing convergence between traditional BaaS infrastructure and compliant digital asset services in Europe.