Santander Invest Review: The Ultimate Guide to Trading

Introduction: Where Traditional Banking Meets the Digital Asset Revolution

The cryptocurrency market has evolved from a niche, speculative corner of the internet into a globally recognized financial asset class, attracting institutional investors, retail traders, and digital-native generations seeking portfolio diversification. At the intersection of this evolution and traditional banking stands Santander Invest — a powerful investment ecosystem built under the umbrella of one of the world’s largest and most reputable financial institutions.

Santander, with roots dating back to 1857 and operations spanning more than 40 countries, is no stranger to financial innovation. But in 2025, the bank has made one of its boldest moves yet: fully integrating cryptocurrency trading into its digital investment platform via Openbank, Santander Group’s 100% digital banking arm. This means retail investors can now buy, sell, and hold Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Litecoin (LTC), Polygon (POL), and Cardano (ADA) directly within their existing Santander investment accounts — no third-party platforms required.

This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about Santander Invest as a crypto trading platform in 2025 — from its supported digital assets and fee structures to its regulatory compliance, security framework, investment tools, and long-term roadmap. Whether you are a seasoned crypto trader or a first-time digital asset investor, this article is your complete resource for understanding what Santander Invest offers and why it is rapidly becoming one of the most credible destinations for regulated cryptocurrency trading.

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What Is Santander Invest? A Platform Overview

Santander Invest refers to the investment and trading capabilities offered through Santander Group’s financial ecosystem, with cryptocurrency trading specifically delivered via Openbank — the group’s fully digital banking platform. Openbank is not a new player; it has been operating as a digital-first bank with a full suite of investment products for years. What is new — and significant — is the launch of its cryptocurrency trading service in September 2025, marking a watershed moment for bank-integrated crypto trading in Europe.

Through Santander Invest and Openbank, users gain access to:

• Cryptocurrency trading (Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Polygon, Cardano)
• Stocks — over 3,000 listed equities from global markets
• Investment Funds — more than 3,000 managed and indexed funds
• ETFs (Exchange-Traded Funds) — over 2,000 ETFs spanning global sectors and themes
• Robo-Advisory services — AI-powered automated portfolio management
• Fixed-income and savings products

The platform’s crypto trading service is integrated directly into this existing investment infrastructure, meaning digital asset investors enjoy the same institutional-grade security, regulatory oversight, and user experience as traditional investors on the platform.

Why Santander Invest Matters for Crypto Traders in 2025

The question many experienced crypto traders might ask is: Why use a bank for crypto trading when there are dedicated exchanges available? The answer lies in several structural advantages that Santander Invest brings to the table.

1. Regulatory Certainty Under MiCA

Perhaps the single most important factor that differentiates Santander Invest from many standalone crypto exchanges is its full compliance with the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) — the most comprehensive crypto regulatory framework in the world, approved by the EU in 2023.

MiCA compliance means:

• Customers receive formal investor protections not typically available on unregulated exchanges
• The platform operates under clear legal frameworks governing custody, disclosures, and dispute resolution
• Anti-money laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC) standards are enforced at institutional banking levels
• Santander’s obligations to safeguard client assets are legally mandated, not just voluntary policy

For crypto traders who have experienced the collapse of unregulated platforms — from exchange insolvencies to rug pulls — MiCA-regulated trading via Santander Invest provides a fundamentally different risk profile.

2. No Need to Transfer Funds to External Platforms

One of the persistent pain points for crypto investors who use traditional banks is the friction of moving money. Typically, you would need to:

1. Withdraw fiat currency from your bank
2. Transfer to a crypto exchange
3. Complete additional KYC processes
4. Buy crypto on the exchange
5. Decide whether to hold on the exchange (custodial risk) or move to a private wallet

With Santander Invest via Openbank, this multi-step process is entirely eliminated. Your crypto trades execute directly within your existing bank account and investment portfolio. Fiat stays in the ecosystem. Execution is immediate. This seamless, unified experience is a genuine competitive advantage for traders who value convenience and operational security.

3. Institutional-Grade Custody and Security

When you hold crypto on Santander Invest, your digital assets are held under Santander’s custodial infrastructure — a system built to meet the standards of one of the world’s top 15 banks by total assets. The bank’s extensive cybersecurity protocols, regulatory auditing, and compliance infrastructure provide a security backdrop that most standalone exchanges cannot match.

Supported Cryptocurrencies on Santander Invest

At the time of the platform’s 2025 launch, Santander Invest supports trading and custody of five major cryptocurrencies. Each was selected based on market capitalization, liquidity, regulatory status, and alignment with MiCA guidelines.

Bitcoin (BTC) — The Digital Gold Standard

Bitcoin is the original cryptocurrency and the world’s largest digital asset by market capitalization. On Santander Invest, Bitcoin trading gives retail investors access to the asset often described as “digital gold” — a decentralized, fixed-supply store of value with a 21-million-coin cap.

Why Bitcoin on Santander Invest?

• Bitcoin has the deepest liquidity of any cryptocurrency, ensuring tight spreads and reliable price execution
• Santander had already explored BTC exposure through a Bitcoin ETP (Exchange-Traded Product) launched in 2024, signaling institutional confidence in the asset
• Bitcoin’s recognition in traditional financial markets makes it a natural fit for a banking-integrated investment platform
• It represents the single most important digital asset for investors seeking long-term portfolio diversification outside of fiat currencies

Ethereum (ETH) — The Smart Contract Backbone

Ethereum is the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization and the foundational infrastructure layer for decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and a vast ecosystem of blockchain applications. ETH’s transition to Proof-of-Stake (PoS) consensus in 2022 made it one of the most energy-efficient major blockchains in operation.

Why Ethereum on Santander Invest?

• Ethereum’s utility value — as the native asset of the world’s most used smart contract platform — makes it a fundamentally different investment thesis from Bitcoin
• ETH has strong institutional adoption, with multiple Ethereum ETFs approved globally
• Its programmability positions Ethereum as potentially central to Santander’s future DeFi and tokenization ambitions
• For diversified crypto portfolios, ETH exposure alongside BTC is considered essential by most digital asset analysts

Litecoin (LTC) — The Silver to Bitcoin’s Gold

Litecoin was one of the earliest Bitcoin forks, created in 2011, and was designed to be a faster, lower-cost version of Bitcoin for everyday payments. While it has lower market capitalization than BTC or ETH, Litecoin has maintained strong liquidity and has one of the longest track records in the crypto market.

Key Litecoin highlights:

• Block times of 2.5 minutes (compared to Bitcoin’s 10 minutes), enabling faster confirmations
• Uses the Scrypt hashing algorithm, making it complementary rather than competitive to Bitcoin’s SHA-256
• Long-established presence in the market, providing relative stability compared to newer altcoins
• Popular for traders seeking faster settlement times in crypto-to-fiat conversions

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Polygon (POL) — The Ethereum Scaling Network

Polygon is an Ethereum Layer-2 scaling solution designed to address Ethereum’s high gas fees and congestion issues. Previously known as MATIC, Polygon has become one of the most widely used scaling networks, hosting thousands of decentralized applications and processing billions of transactions.

Why Polygon is on Santander Invest:

• Polygon represents the Layer-2 scaling narrative — one of the most consequential trends in blockchain development
• Its deep integration with Ethereum makes POL a logical companion to ETH in a diversified crypto portfolio
• Polygon has established major partnerships with global brands across gaming, finance, and enterprise blockchain
• The inclusion of POL signals that Santander Invest is not just focused on “safe” large-cap assets but is serious about capturing growth across the broader crypto ecosystem

Cardano (ADA) — The Research-Driven Blockchain

Cardano is a third-generation proof-of-stake blockchain designed with academic rigor and peer-reviewed development protocols. Founded by Ethereum co-founder Charles Hoskinson, Cardano has built a reputation for methodical, security-first blockchain development.

Cardano’s appeal to investors:

• ADA has a strong global community and significant adoption in emerging markets
• Cardano’s development roadmap includes smart contracts, DeFi protocols, and enterprise blockchain solutions
• Its energy efficiency and formal verification approach align with ESG-focused investment themes
• Adding ADA to Santander Invest’s lineup provides investors exposure to the “slow and steady” institutional blockchain thesis

Fee Structure: What Does It Cost to Trade Crypto on Santander Invest?

Santander Invest has designed a transparent, straightforward fee model for its cryptocurrency trading service:

Understanding the 1.49% Fee

The 1.49% transaction fee applies to both buy and sell orders. For context:

• On a €1,000 Bitcoin purchase, the fee would be €14.90
• On a €500 Ethereum sale, the fee would be €7.45
• For transactions below €67 in value, the minimum €1 fee applies

Compared to traditional crypto exchanges, 1.49% is competitive for a bank-integrated platform, especially when you factor in the institutional security, MiCA investor protections, and the elimination of cross-platform transfer costs and risks.

No Custody Fees is a particularly attractive feature. Many crypto custody solutions — especially institutional-grade ones — charge ongoing fees to hold assets. Santander Invest eliminates this cost entirely, making it highly favorable for long-term holders who want to “buy and hold” without being penalized for their investment horizon.

How to Start Crypto Trading on Santander Invest

Getting started with crypto trading on Santander Invest through Openbank is designed to be straightforward, especially for existing banking customers. Here is a step-by-step overview of the process:

Step 1: Open or Access Your Openbank Account

If you are already an Openbank customer, you can access the investment and crypto trading features directly through the Openbank app or web platform. New users will need to complete the account registration process, which includes standard banking KYC verification (identity document, proof of residence, and the standard regulatory onboarding for EU digital banking).

Step 2: Navigate to the Investment Section

Within the Openbank platform, the crypto trading service is integrated into the broader investment hub — the same section where you would access stocks, ETFs, and funds. This deliberate integration signals that Santander views crypto as a legitimate investment asset class, not a speculative sideshow.

Step 3: Complete Crypto-Specific Suitability Assessment

Consistent with MiCA requirements and EU financial regulations, Openbank may ask users to complete a brief questionnaire to assess their understanding of crypto risk and their overall investment profile. This is a protective measure designed to ensure investors are informed about the volatility and risk profile of digital assets before trading.

Step 4: Fund Your Account

Since the crypto trading service operates within your existing bank account, you do not need to deposit funds separately. Your available balance in the account can be used directly for crypto purchases, eliminating the typical delay of cross-platform transfers.

Step 5: Place Your Trade

Once funded and verified, placing a trade is as simple as:

1. Selecting the cryptocurrency (BTC, ETH, LTC, POL, or ADA)
2. Entering the amount you wish to buy or sell (in fiat or in crypto units)
3. Reviewing the fee calculation and execution price
4. Confirming the trade

Crypto is added to your portfolio and held in custody by Openbank/Santander’s secure infrastructure immediately after execution.

Step 6: Monitor Your Portfolio

Santander Invest’s unified portfolio view allows you to track your crypto holdings alongside your stocks, funds, and ETFs in one dashboard. This consolidated view is one of the platform’s most practical features — giving you a holistic picture of your total investment exposure without having to switch between multiple apps.

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The Santander Invest Ecosystem: Beyond Crypto

While the cryptocurrency launch is the most newsworthy feature of the platform in 2025, it is important to understand that Santander Invest is a comprehensive investment ecosystem. The crypto offering is one powerful component within a much larger suite of financial tools.

Robo-Advisor: AI-Powered Portfolio Management

Openbank’s Robo Advisor service uses artificial intelligence to build and manage diversified investment portfolios based on each user’s:

• Risk tolerance (conservative to aggressive)
• Investment horizon (short-term to long-term)
• Financial goals (wealth preservation, growth, retirement)

The AI-driven system continuously rebalances portfolios and optimizes for risk-adjusted returns — a service that was previously only accessible to high-net-worth individuals with private wealth managers. On Santander Invest, this technology is democratized for retail investors.

Critically, the Robo Advisor also provides AI-powered price targets for European and US-listed stocks, giving retail investors access to analysis tools that institutional traders have used for decades.

Stocks: 3,000+ Global Equities

Santander Invest provides access to over 3,000 stocks from major global exchanges, including European and US markets. This breadth allows investors to build globally diversified equity portfolios within the same platform they use for crypto trading.

The convergence of traditional equities and digital assets in one portfolio view is increasingly seen as the direction of modern investing — and Santander Invest is ahead of the curve.

Investment Funds: 3,000+ Options

The platform hosts more than 3,000 investment funds, including:

• Actively managed funds across global sectors
• Passive index funds
• Socially responsible (ESG) funds
• Sector-specific funds (technology, healthcare, emerging markets)

For crypto investors looking to balance high-volatility digital assets with more stable, diversified instruments, the funds library provides comprehensive coverage.

ETFs: 2,000+ Exchange-Traded Funds

With over 2,000 ETFs available, including thematic, sector, factor, and index-tracking options, Santander Invest covers the full spectrum of modern passive investing. The inclusion of Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs from global providers is expected to expand as the market matures.

Security Architecture: How Santander Invest Protects Your Crypto

Security is the paramount concern for any crypto investor, and Santander Invest benefits from the security infrastructure of one of the world’s largest banking groups.

MiCA Regulatory Compliance

As noted throughout this article, MiCA compliance is a foundational security guarantee. Under MiCA rules:

• Segregation of client assets: Customer crypto holdings must be kept separate from the platform’s own operational funds
• Disclosure requirements: Platforms must clearly communicate risks, fees, and asset characteristics
• Operational resilience standards: Platforms must maintain robust IT security and business continuity plans
• Complaint and dispute resolution: Customers have legally protected rights to redress in cases of platform failure or misconduct

Banking-Level KYC and AML

Santander Invest enforces the same rigorous KYC (Know Your Customer) and AML (Anti-Money Laundering) protocols as its banking services. This means:

• Identity verification for all account holders
• Transaction monitoring and reporting for suspicious activity
• Compliance with the EU’s 6th Anti-Money Laundering Directive (6AMLD)
• No anonymous trading — every transaction is tied to a verified identity

While this level of verification might seem limiting compared to some decentralized exchanges, it provides a critical layer of protection against fraud, hacking, and unauthorized transactions.

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Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) and Biometric Security

Openbank’s app incorporates multi-factor authentication, including:

• Two-factor authentication (2FA) for all login and transaction approvals
• Biometric authentication (fingerprint and facial recognition) on supported devices
• Session timeouts and device recognition protocols

Institutional Custody Infrastructure

When you hold crypto on Santander Invest, your assets are secured by Santander’s custodial infrastructure — backed by the capital reserves and operational security of a bank with over €1.8 trillion in total assets. The precise custody mechanism (hot vs. cold storage allocation) is managed by Santander’s institutional-grade digital asset custody framework, which operates under continuous regulatory audit.

Santander’s Broader Crypto Vision: The Road Ahead

The September 2025 crypto trading launch is not an isolated product feature — it is the visible output of a multi-year strategic investment in blockchain and digital asset infrastructure by Santander Group.

Bitcoin ETP (2024): The First Move

Before the retail trading launch, Santander had already offered exposure to Bitcoin via a Bitcoin ETP (Exchange-Traded Product) in 2024. This allowed clients to gain regulated Bitcoin exposure without directly owning the underlying asset — and served as Santander’s proof-of-concept for institutional crypto services.

The MiCA Opportunity

The implementation of MiCA across the EU has created a regulatory framework that enables Santander to roll out digital asset services across member states systematically. The initial Germany launch followed by Spain (November 2025) was designed as a phased geographic rollout, with additional EU markets planned throughout 2026.

Beyond basic trading, analysts expect Santander to leverage MiCA compliance for:

• Stablecoin services — including euro-denominated stablecoins for faster cross-border payments
• Tokenized assets — representing traditional financial instruments (bonds, real estate) as blockchain tokens
• Cross-border payment solutions — using blockchain rails to reduce international transfer costs
• Programmable treasury tools — smart contract-based financial instruments for corporate clients

DeFi and Self-Custodial Solutions

Santander has also been exploring decentralized finance through its innovation programs. The Santander X Global Challenge on Blockchain & Beyond has highlighted use cases like self-custodial, multichain wallets developed in collaboration with UNICEF — enabling access to DeFi products for unbanked populations.

This dual track — serving retail investors through regulated, custodial platforms like Santander Invest, while exploring DeFi infrastructure for broader financial inclusion — positions Santander as a uniquely versatile player in the crypto ecosystem.

Expansion of Supported Assets

Santander has confirmed that the initial five-asset lineup (BTC, ETH, LTC, POL, ADA) is just the beginning. The platform plans to:

• Expand the list of supported cryptocurrencies
• Introduce crypto-to-crypto conversions (e.g., swapping ETH for ADA directly without converting to fiat)
• Potentially add crypto staking services
• Explore integration with tokenized traditional assets

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Santander Invest vs. Traditional Crypto Exchanges

To help prospective investors make an informed decision, here is how Santander Invest compares to standalone crypto exchanges:

The key takeaway: Santander Invest is optimized for regulated, mainstream investors who value security, compliance, and convenience over the breadth of assets and advanced trading tools available on specialized exchanges. It is the ideal platform for:

• Investors who already bank with Santander/Openbank
• First-time crypto buyers seeking a trusted, familiar environment
• Long-term holders prioritizing security over trading frequency
• Investors who want crypto within a diversified portfolio view
• Anyone who prioritizes regulatory protection above all else

Understanding Crypto Risk on Santander Invest

Santander Invest, in keeping with its banking-grade regulatory obligations, emphasizes transparent risk disclosure for all crypto products. Investors should understand:

Volatility Risk

Cryptocurrencies are significantly more volatile than most traditional asset classes. Bitcoin, for example, has experienced drawdowns exceeding 80% during bear markets, as well as gains exceeding 1,000% during bull cycles. This volatility creates both opportunity and substantial risk of loss.

Concentration Risk

Investing a large proportion of your portfolio in one or a small number of cryptocurrencies amplifies both potential gains and losses. Santander Invest’s multi-asset platform (crypto + stocks + ETFs + funds) makes it easy to maintain appropriate diversification.

Market Liquidity Risk

While the five assets on Santander Invest are among the most liquid in the crypto market, liquidity can thin significantly during extreme market events, potentially affecting execution prices during high-volume trading periods.

Regulatory Risk

Despite MiCA providing significant legal clarity, the global regulatory landscape for crypto continues to evolve. Changes in EU policy or international regulatory coordination could impact the availability or taxation of digital assets.

Smart Contract and Technology Risk

For assets like Ethereum, Polygon, and Cardano, risks associated with smart contract vulnerabilities, protocol upgrades, and network-level failures are real considerations. Santander’s custodial model insulates retail investors from direct exposure to wallet management risk, but underlying protocol risks remain.

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Who Should Use Santander Invest for Crypto Trading?

Based on its features, fee structure, regulatory framework, and platform positioning, Santander Invest is particularly well-suited for:

1. Conservative Crypto Investors Those entering the crypto market for the first time and prioritizing safety over maximum returns. The MiCA framework and Santander’s institutional backing provide an unparalleled security baseline.

2. Existing Openbank/Santander Customers If you already use Openbank for banking or investing, adding crypto exposure to your existing portfolio is now as simple as clicking “Buy” in the investment section — no new accounts, no new KYC, no fund transfers.

3. Diversified Portfolio Builders Investors who want to allocate a measured percentage of their overall portfolio to crypto (many advisors suggest 1–10% for diversification) will find Santander Invest ideal because it displays crypto alongside traditional assets in one unified view.

4. Long-Term Holders (HODLers) With zero custody fees, Santander Invest rewards long-term holding. There is no ongoing cost for simply maintaining your crypto positions year after year.

5. Compliance-Focused Institutional and Semi-Institutional Investors Family offices, SMEs, and semi-institutional investors operating within EU compliance frameworks benefit from the clear audit trail, regulated reporting, and MiCA-compliant documentation that Santander Invest provides.

The Santander Brand: A Trust Foundation That Matters in Crypto

In an industry frequently marked by fraud, insolvency, and scandal, the Santander brand represents something genuinely rare: multi-century institutional credibility. Founded in 1857, Santander has navigated multiple financial crises, two world wars, and decades of global regulatory evolution. It has over 170 million customers worldwide and operates in more than 40 countries.

This history does not make Santander infallible — no institution is — but it does provide a level of baseline trust that no startup exchange, however sophisticated, can replicate. When you hold crypto on Santander Invest, you are benefiting from:

• 168+ years of financial governance experience
• Regulatory relationships with central banks and financial authorities across the EU and globally
• Capital adequacy requirements that far exceed those of any crypto exchange
• A reputation that creates strong institutional incentives to protect customer assets

For mainstream investors who have been hesitant to enter the crypto market precisely because of the trust deficit of existing platforms, Santander Invest is the answer.

Santander Invest and the Future of Crypto Banking

The launch of cryptocurrency trading on Santander Invest is not merely a product feature — it is a signal about the future direction of the entire financial industry.

We are entering an era where the lines between traditional banking and digital asset management are permanently blurring. The most successful financial institutions of the next decade will be those that successfully bridge these worlds — offering customers the security and regulatory protection of regulated banking alongside the growth opportunities, programmability, and global accessibility of blockchain-based finance.

Santander is staking its position at the forefront of this convergence with:

• Openbank’s crypto trading service (launched 2025)
• AI-powered robo advisory for automated portfolio management
• Blockchain innovation initiatives via Santander X
• MiCA-compliant digital asset infrastructure across the EU
• Stablecoin and tokenization roadmap for future product expansion

As more European banks follow Santander’s lead — and as regulatory frameworks like MiCA expand globally — the Santander Invest model will likely be recognized as the template for how mainstream finance integrates with digital assets.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): Santander Invest Crypto Trading

Q: What cryptocurrencies can I trade on Santander Invest? A: Currently, BTC (Bitcoin), ETH (Ethereum), LTC (Litecoin), POL (Polygon), and ADA (Cardano) are available. More assets and crypto-to-crypto conversions are planned.

Q: What are the fees for crypto trading on Santander Invest? A: A 1.49% transaction fee applies to each buy or sell order, with a minimum charge of €1 per operation. There are no custody fees.

Q: Is Santander Invest regulated for crypto trading? A: Yes. The service operates under the EU’s MiCA regulation, providing formal investor protections and legal compliance.

Q: Do I need to open a new account to trade crypto? A: No. Existing Openbank customers can access crypto trading directly through their current investment account within the Openbank platform.

Q: Is my crypto safe on Santander Invest? A: Crypto is held under Santander’s institutional custody infrastructure, with MiCA-mandated asset segregation and banking-grade security protocols.

Q: Can I transfer my crypto off the platform to a private wallet? A: Santander Invest operates as a custodial service. The platform manages custody on your behalf. Users seeking self-custody would need to use a separate non-custodial wallet solution.

Q: Where is Santander Invest crypto trading available? A: Initially launched in Germany (September 2025), followed by Spain (November 2025), with additional EU markets planned for 2026.

Q: Does Santander Invest support staking or yield on crypto? A: Not currently, but staking and additional DeFi-adjacent features are on the product roadmap.

Conclusion: Santander Invest as the Gateway to Regulated Crypto Trading

Santander Invest — and the broader Openbank crypto trading ecosystem — represents a watershed in the mainstream adoption of digital assets. By combining the institutional credibility of a 168-year-old global banking group with the transformative potential of blockchain-based currencies, Santander has built what may be the most trusted crypto trading environment currently available to retail investors in Europe.

The platform’s five supported cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Polygon, and Cardano) cover the most strategically important segments of the digital asset market. Its 1.49% transaction fee with zero custody costs makes it accessible for both active traders and long-term holders. Its MiCA compliance provides genuine investor protection in a market where such protections have historically been the exception, not the rule.

For mainstream investors who have been watching the crypto revolution from the sidelines — waiting for a trusted, regulated, and convenient entry point — Santander Invest is the platform that changes the equation.

The future of finance is not a choice between traditional banking and decentralized digital assets. It is the intelligent integration of both — and Santander Invest is already there.

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