The Revolution of European Savings Arrives in Italy

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:

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:

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:

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:

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.