Trade Republic continues to grow and establish itself as one of the most innovative financial entities in Europe. With over 10 million clients and more than 150 billion euros in assets under management, the platform has now emerged as the largest savings app in Europe.
A result that stems not only from technological efficiency but from a profound cultural shift: Europeans—and increasingly Italians—are beginning to take control of their personal finances.
In an exclusive interview with The Cryptonomist, Luca Carabetta, representative of Trade Republic for Italy, explained how the market is changing, what the bank’s strategic priorities are, and how the arrival of regulations like MiCA is shaping a new landscape for the crypto sector in Europe.
Trade Republic Today: Strong Growth Numbers and a New European Paradigm
The rise of Trade Republic is evident to everyone.
In January 2025, it had 8 million clients, which grew to more than 10 million by September. The assets under management increased from 100 to over 150 billion euros in less than a year, marking a growth of over 25%.
According to Luca Carabetta, this expansion is not only due to the platform’s efforts but also to an increased awareness among European citizens:
“Users are becoming more responsible and are increasingly distrusting traditional banks. They no longer want to completely delegate the management of their assets, but rather make informed decisions.”
Trade Republic, operating as a regulated bank in 18 European countries, provides direct access to numerous asset classes, interest-bearing accounts, and a financial ecosystem designed to be simple, clear, and transparent.
The Italian Market: Cultural Challenge, but Huge Opportunity
Why invest so heavily in Italy, a country often described as “backward” from a financial perspective?
Luca’s response is clear: precisely because it’s difficult, it’s a huge opportunity.
In Italy, wealth is primarily concentrated among the over 50, who have historically been tied to BTPs and a very conservative approach to savings.
On the other hand, there is a generation of thirty-somethings that is changing the rules of the game: more informed, more autonomous, less tied to traditional banks, and very cost-conscious.
The average age of a Trade Republic client in Italy is indeed around 30 years, consistent with the rest of Europe. And it is a generation that seeks:
- free accounts,
- liquidity remuneration,
- direct access to asset classes,
- simple tools for building long-term wealth.
ETFs, accumulation plans, and crypto: the most used products by Italians
Luca describes a Europe split in two:
- those over 50 continue to invest primarily in bonds and government securities;
- young people build wealth through ETFs, systematic investment plans (SIPs), and crypto.
The PACs on ETFs are currently one of the most popular products on Trade Republic:
“The accumulation plan helps both when the market rises and when it falls. It reduces panic, eliminates the question ‘when do I buy and when do I sell?’ and allows you to have a long-term strategy.”
Among young Italians, interest in Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies as assets to include in a diversified strategy is also growing.
Crypto, wallets, and MiCA: How the Sector Changes with European Regulation
Trade Republic introduced its own crypto wallet in November, with an initial selection of about 50 cryptocurrencies, all fully compliant with the European MiCA regulation.
The German bank is also the first in Italy to offer managed accounts for crypto, a significant breakthrough for the Italian market:
- no more manual capital gains calculations,
- no more accountant for the tax return,
- complete tax peace of mind.
According to Luca, the MiCA represents a positive turning point:
“Regulation helps serious operators and protects users. We could never advertise individual tokens: the rules are clear and safeguard investors.”
For a regulated bank, MiCA is a challenging yet necessary framework to stand out from non-compliant operators or those with non-EU headquarters.
Democratizing Finance: The True Objective
One of the key words of the interview is democratization.
For Trade Republic, democratizing means:
- lower the barriers to entry,
- clarify tools that have been deliberately complicated for years,
- provide equitable access to ETFs, global markets, crypto, and savings,
- ensure that every citizen can make informed decisions without costly intermediaries.
Luca summarizes it as follows:
“For years, some have played on making finance frightening and inaccessible. Today, technology and competition are changing everything.”
Conclusion
Italy is a complex landscape, but it is also one of the markets with the highest potential in Europe.
Amid more autonomous new generations, expanding crypto, rapidly growing ETFs, and regulations like MiCA that filter out serious operators, Trade Republic is betting on the cultural transformation of our country.
And if we look at the numbers, the bet seems to have taken the right direction.