Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are rapidly becoming the preferred investment vehicle for retail investors across Europe, driven by greater accessibility, lower costs and growing interest in long-term wealth creation. According to Mintos CEO and Co-Founder Martins Sulte, European investors invested a record €330 billion into ETFs in 2025, with the regional investor base expected to more than triple over the next decade. The trend highlights how digital investment platforms are making diversified, low-cost investing more accessible to a broader population.
European multi-asset investment platform Mintos has launched a zero-fee exchange-traded fund (ETF) trading service tailored for long-term retail investors. The product expansion grants users access to more than 1,000 UCITS-compliant funds with no transaction fees, no ongoing custody charges, and a minimum entry threshold of just one euro. The suite is delivered through a technical partnership with API-first investment infrastructure provider Upvest, making popular funds from global asset managers such as iShares, Vanguard, and VanEck directly accessible within the Mintos ecosystem.
The zero-cost, fractional investment structure addresses key cost barriers that frequently penalise retail investors making small, recurring portfolio contributions. At traditional retail brokerages, fixed execution or clearing fees on modest recurring deposits can consume a significant percentage of an investor’s principal before the principal is deployed in the market. The elimination of commission overheads and custody fees ensures that the full cash allocation enters the chosen fund directly, supporting micro-investing and automated wealth building.
The platform accommodates both self-directed trading and fully automated portfolio management. Users can manually construct custom fund combinations starting at one euro, or opt for Mintos Core ETFs, a pre-built model portfolio composed of global equity and fixed-income assets that automatically rebalances for deposits of fifty euros or more without asset management charges. To further streamline portfolio construction, the company is preparing to release an automated Investment Plans feature that will allow investors to schedule recurring weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or quarterly bank transfers.
Martins Sulte, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Mintos, noted that European retail investors allocated a record 330 billion euros into ETFs in 2025, with industry projections forecasting that the regional ETF investor base will expand from 30 million to 100 million people over the coming decade. Sulte emphasised that ETFs serve as the primary entry point for modern wealth accumulation, adding that removing transaction costs and minimum capital constraints helps eliminate structural barriers between individual investors and transparent global markets.
What it means for the industry
- Retail investing is becoming increasingly mainstream, with ETFs emerging as the preferred entry point for first-time and long-term investors.
- Digital wealth platforms are lowering barriers to investment by removing high transaction costs and minimum investment requirements.
- The rapid growth of ETF adoption is reshaping Europe’s wealth management landscape, expanding access to diversified investment products.
- Fintech platforms are playing a larger role in financial inclusion, enabling more individuals to participate in global capital markets.
- Growing investor participation is expected to accelerate competition among digital wealth providers, traditional asset managers and brokerage platforms.
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