Australia's CBA breaks ranks to offer crypto trading

FILE PHOTO: Australia's Commonwealth Bank logo is pictured at a branch in Sydney, August 2, 2014. REUTERS/David Gray/File Photo

SYDNEY (Reuters) -Commonwealth Bank of Australia will become the country's first to offer retail clients crypto services, Australia's largest bank said on Wednesday, marking a change from the sector that had refused to do business with cryptocurrency providers.

Starting with a pilot this year, Commonwealth Bank will partner with Gemini Trust Company LLC, a New York-based crypto exchange, to offer trading in 10 cryptocurrencies through its banking app, which is used by about 6.4 million customers.