Israel's largest bank teams with Galaxy to bring crypto trading to its investment app. Bank Leumi will offer Bitcoin, Ether, and Solana trading through its investment app from early 2027, partnering with Galaxy in a landmark move for Israeli banking. Bank Leumi, Israel's largest bank, has announced a landmark partnership with Galaxy to provide its retail customers with direct access to Bitcoin, Ether, and Solana trading - all from within the bank's existing investment application. The service is slated to go live in early 2027, marking one of the most significant steps yet by a major Middle Eastern financial institution toward the mainstream integration of digital assets. The agreement positions Bank Leumi at the vanguard of a growing global trend: incumbent banks moving beyond cautious observation of the cryptocurrency market to become active distribution channels for digital asset exposure. Rather than directing clients to third-party exchanges or standalone crypto brokers, the bank will embed buy, hold, and sell functionality for three of the world's most prominent cryptocurrencies directly inside the investment app that existing customers already use for conventional securities and savings products. Why Galaxy, and why these three assets. The choice of Galaxy as the infrastructure partner is telling. Galaxy has established itself as one of the most institutionally credible bridges between traditional finance and digital assets, with a track record of providing custody, trading, and advisory services to banks, asset managers, and sovereign entities worldwide. For Bank Leumi, enlisting Galaxy effectively outsources the technically complex and regulatory-sensitive plumbing of cryptocurrency custody and execution to a specialist, while the bank retains the client relationship and the distribution surface. The selection of Bitcoin, Ether, and Solana as the initial trio is equally deliberate. Bitcoin remains the undisputed reserve asset of the digital economy and the entry point through which most retail investors first encounter the asset class. Ethereum, the network underpinning the vast majority of decentralized finance and tokenization infrastructure, offers a second tier of institutional credibility. Solana's inclusion is the most forward-leaning signal: its presence on a traditional bank's approved product list indicates that at least one major institution now views it as sufficiently mature and liquid to offer to mass-market retail customers alongside the two dominant networks. The regulatory and strategic context. The announcement arrives at a moment when Israeli financial regulators have been progressively warming to digital asset activity. The country's Capital Market Authority has engaged in ongoing dialogue with both domestic and international crypto firms over the past several years, and the broader global regulatory environment - shaped significantly by frameworks emerging from the European Securities and Markets Authority and the Bank for International Settlements - has made it easier for licensed deposit-taking institutions to argue the compliance case for offering regulated crypto access. For Bank Leumi, the strategic rationale extends well beyond simply satisfying existing customer demand. Israeli technology culture is among the most crypto-literate in the world, with a disproportionately high share of the population having engaged with digital assets through one channel or another. A bank that fails to meet that demand risks watching a meaningful portion of its most financially active customers migrate their investment activity to neobanks or pure-play crypto platforms that already offer such services. By embedding the capability natively, Bank Leumi preserves its position as the primary financial relationship for those clients. Implications for the regional banking sector. The move will likely accelerate conversations at competing Israeli and broader regional banks. When the largest institution in a market formally integrates cryptocurrency trading into its flagship retail investment product, smaller competitors face an immediate question of whether their own absence from the space becomes a competitive liability. That dynamic has played out repeatedly in European and North American markets, where an early mover by one major bank tends to compress the timeline for industry-wide adoption. The 2027 launch window also deserves scrutiny. Announcing a partnership some months before go-live is standard practice for projects that require regulatory sign-off, system integration testing, and client-facing user-experience development. The gap between announcement and launch is a feature, not a delay - it signals that the partnership has cleared internal governance hurdles but still requires coordination with supervisory authorities before the first retail trade can be executed. What this means. Bank Leumi's decision to partner with Galaxy and bring Bitcoin, Ether, and Solana trading inside its investment app from early 2027 is more than a product update - it is a structural statement about how traditional banking intends to compete in an era of digitized value. By choosing institutional-grade infrastructure, a curated set of proven digital assets, and the familiarity of an existing app interface, the bank is making a calculated bet that crypto access delivered through a trusted regulated institution will capture a segment of the market that would never have opened a standalone exchange account. If that bet proves correct, it will serve as a replicable template for incumbent banks across the region and beyond. Klaus hartmann. Banking infrastructure correspondent. Tracks the Bundesbank, the ECB and German Mittelstand financial systems. § Comments Open discussion no account needed

Bank Leumi partners with Galaxy to be the first bank in Israel to offer digital asset trading. Aug 14, 2026, 07:00 ET The partnership pairs Israel's largest bank with Galaxy's infrastructure to give customers secure, regulated access to digital assets TEL AVIV, Israel and NEW YORK, Aug. 14, 2026 /CNW/ - Bank Leumi, Israel's largest bank, and Galaxy Digital Inc. (Nasdaq: GLXY) today announced a partnership to provide digital asset trading for the bank's customers. Through this partnership, Bank Leumi will become the first bank in Israel to offer digital asset trading services to its customers. Customers of Leumi and PEPPER, the bank's mobile digital banking arm, will be able to buy, hold and sell selected digital assets, including Bitcoin, Ether and Solana, within the Leumi Trade capital markets application. Trading will take place in a dedicated, secured section of the app. The service is expected to become available to customers in early 2027. Bank Leumi will be using GalaxyOne Institutional, Galaxy's institutional platform for banks, asset managers and other institutions for trading and other services, all built with deep expertise and institutional grade execution. In addition, Bank Leumi signed an agreement with Galaxy's Custody Infrastructure platform, formerly known as GK8, to support the bank's digital asset infrastructure. "We are constantly working to expand the range of advanced financial services that the bank offers its customers. This initiative represents a significant pillar of the bank's innovation strategy and enables us to provide customers with simple, secure, and regulated access to trading digital assets through one of the world's leading technological infrastructures," said Maya Ravia, Head of Strategy at Bank Leumi. "We believe that digital assets are gradually becoming an integral part of the global financial system, and it is our role to enable customers to benefit from this development within a reliable, secure, and regulated banking framework." "The future of finance will run on open, programmable rails, and we believe the banks that move first will define the era that follows," said Lior Lamesh, CEO of Galaxy Israel. "Leumi is the first bank in Israel to bring digital assets to its customers, and it chose Galaxy, to make it possible. The digital assets market in Israel is growing rapidly, and we are proud to provide the foundation of trust for the country's leading institutions. We are building one platform for trading and custody, with institutional-grade security at its core, and the onchain rails beneath it, through Galaxy Infrastructure and GalaxyOne Institutional, for banks around the world." About Galaxy Galaxy Digital Inc. (Nasdaq: GLXY) is a global leader in digital assets and data center infrastructure, growing the economy that runs on code. Galaxy delivers the onchain infrastructure that connects institutions to digital assets, including trading, advisory, asset management, staking, self-custody, and tokenization. Galaxy also develops and operates data center infrastructure to power AI and HPC workloads. Anchored by its Helios campus in Texas, Galaxy is building a multi-gigawatt pipeline of more than 5.7 GW of potential capacity, positioning it among the largest and fastest-growing data center developers in North America. The Company is headquartered in New York City, with offices across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Additional information about Galaxy's businesses and products is available on www.galaxy.com. About Bank Leumi Bank Leumi, founded more than 120 years ago, is Israel's leading financial institution and operates without a controlling shareholder. Leumi serves millions of customers across all segments, including households, small businesses, mid-sized companies, and large corporations. The Bank combines a nationwide physical presence with advanced digital and AI capabilities. Leumi's ongoing technological transformation has led to a significant improvement in its operational efficiency ratios, positioning it among the most efficient banks in the world. CAUTION ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS The information in this document may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and "forward-looking information" under Canadian securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). Our forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our or our management team's expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about our onchain business, are forward-looking statements. In addition, any statements that refer to estimates, projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. The words "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "intend," "may," "might," "plan," "possible," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "would" and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. The forward-looking statements contained in this document are based on our current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on us taking into account information currently available to us. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting us will be those that we have anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond our control) or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks include, but are not limited to: (1) risks related to our digital assets business; (2) changes in applicable laws or regulations; (3) the possibility that the Company may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; (4) changes or events that impact the cryptocurrency and AI/HPC industry, including potential regulation, that are out of our control; (5) the risk that our business will not grow in line with our expectations or continue on its current trajectory; (6) the possibility that our addressable market is smaller than we have anticipated and/or that we may not gain share of it; (7) any delay or failure to consummate the Company's business mandates or achieve its business pipeline goals; (8) liquidity or economic conditions impacting our business; (9) technological challenges, cyber incidents or exploits; and (10) those other risks contained in filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") from time to time, including in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2026, available at www.sec.gov. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, they could cause our actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, or to update the reasons if actual results differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements. You should not take any statement regarding past trends or activities as a representation that the trends or activities will continue in the future. Accordingly, you should not put undue reliance on these statements. SOURCE Galaxy Digital Inc. Galaxy Investor Relations Contact: Jonathan Goldowsky, [email protected]; Galaxy Media Relations Contact: Michael Wursthorn, [email protected]

The bank of Israel's digital pivot: how Galaxy's partnership signals the end of crypto's pariah status. Israel's largest lender, Bank Hapoalim, joins forces with Galaxy Digital to offer crypto trading, marking a decisive victory for institutional adoption and a stark rebuke of traditional financial isolationism. Marcus Webb Macro & Geopolitics Correspondent · CCN In the high-stakes theater of global finance, few moments are as symbolically potent as a legacy institution opening its doors to the very asset class it once sought to marginalize. This week, Bank Hapoalim, Israel's largest financial institution by assets, announced a strategic partnership with Galaxy Digital to offer cryptocurrency trading services to its corporate and institutional clients. This is not merely a product launch; it is a geopolitical signal that the era of crypto as a niche, speculative hobby is conclusively over. For a nation that has long balanced on the razor's edge between technological innovation and stringent regulatory caution, this move represents a fundamental recalibration of its financial infrastructure. To understand the weight of this decision, one must look beyond the balance sheets and into the broader macroeconomic currents reshaping the Middle East. Israel, often dubbed the 'Startup Nation,' has cultivated a deep ecosystem of blockchain developers and fintech innovators. Yet, for years, its traditional banking sector remained hesitant, wary of the volatility and compliance burdens associated with digital assets. The partnership with Galaxy Digital, a firm founded by Mike Novogratz and deeply embedded in the institutional crypto infrastructure, provides Bank Hapoalim with the necessary compliance frameworks and technological backbone to navigate this new terrain without compromising its regulatory standing. It is a classic case of regulatory arbitrage meeting technological necessity. "This is not merely a product launch; it is a geopolitical signal that the era of crypto as a niche, speculative hobby is conclusively over." The implications for the global financial system are profound. When a tier-one bank in a G20-aligned economy integrates crypto trading, it validates the asset class for a broader audience of conservative investors. This is not just about retail traders buying Bitcoin; it is about corporate treasuries seeking diversification and institutional investors looking for yield in a high-interest-rate environment. By leveraging Galaxy's expertise, Bank Hapoalim is effectively outsourcing the technical risk while retaining the client relationship, a model that is likely to be replicated by other legacy banks across Europe and Asia who are currently watching from the sidelines. Critics might argue that this is merely a reactive measure to keep pace with competitors, but I see it as a proactive defense against financial fragmentation. In an increasingly multipolar world, where digital currencies from central banks (CBDCs) and stablecoins are challenging the dominance of the US dollar, traditional banks must evolve or risk irrelevance. Israel's strategic positioning in the tech sector makes it a natural laboratory for these experiments. The partnership signals that Israeli regulators, including the Israel Securities Authority, are moving towards a more nuanced understanding of crypto, recognizing it not as a threat to monetary sovereignty, but as a component of a modern, resilient financial system. Moreover, this move underscores the growing convergence between traditional finance (TradFi) and decentralized finance (DeFi) principles. While Bank Hapoalim is not offering direct access to decentralized exchanges, the infrastructure provided by Galaxy allows for the seamless integration of digital assets into traditional custody solutions. This hybrid model reduces the friction that has long plagued institutional adoption, offering the security of regulated banking with the efficiency of blockchain technology. It is a pragmatic approach that acknowledges the reality: crypto is no longer an alternative system; it is becoming part of the mainstream plumbing of global finance. From a geopolitical perspective, this partnership also highlights Israel's ambition to remain a global hub for financial innovation despite regional instability. By embracing crypto, Israel is signaling to international capital that its financial markets are modern, open, and technologically advanced. This is crucial for attracting foreign investment and maintaining liquidity in its bond and equity markets. In a world where capital flows are increasingly influenced by digital infrastructure, being left behind is not an option. Bank Hapoalim's move is a statement of intent: Israel will not be left out of the digital asset revolution. However, challenges remain. The regulatory landscape is still evolving, and the potential for future restrictions or crackdowns cannot be ignored. The partnership with Galaxy is a calculated risk, one that balances the promise of growth against the perils of compliance. For Bank Hapoalim, the key will be to maintain strict oversight and ensure that its crypto offerings do not expose it to undue reputational or financial risk. But given the trajectory of global financial innovation, the risk of inaction is far greater than the risk of engagement. As Crypto Currency Network look ahead, this partnership should serve as a benchmark for other legacy institutions worldwide. It demonstrates that the integration of crypto into traditional banking is not only possible but necessary for long-term competitiveness. The message is clear: the walls between traditional finance and crypto are crumbling, and those who build bridges will thrive. For investors, policymakers, and technologists alike, this is a pivotal moment in the ongoing narrative of financial evolution. In conclusion, Bank Hapoalim's alliance with Galaxy Digital is more than a business deal; it is a declaration of faith in the future of digital assets. It reflects a broader shift in the global financial order, where innovation drives regulatory adaptation rather than the other way around. As crypto continues to mature, Crypto Currency Network can expect more legacy institutions to follow suit, further blurring the lines between the old world of finance and the new digital frontier. The question is no longer whether crypto will be adopted by mainstream banks, but how quickly they can adapt to survive in this new paradigm. Marcus Webb. Macro & Geopolitics Correspondent Marcus connects crypto to global power shifts, regulatory battles, and economic systems. Based on reporting from CoinDesk: Bitcoin, Ethereum, Crypto News and Price Data. Original analysis and reporting by CCN.