Token classification, VASP and AML duties, the Swiss DLT regime and stablecoins, and how Swiss rules compare with the EU's MiCA framework for crypto firms.
Our Crypto & Digital Assets servicesSwitzerland regulates crypto by what a token and a business actually do, not by the label they carry. FINMA's 2018 guidelines sort tokens into payment, utility and asset types, and the function decides the law: a payment token brings AMLA duties, an asset token is treated as a security. A business that exchanges, transfers or safekeeps crypto for clients is usually a financial intermediary needing SRO affiliation, and holding third-party assets can reach into banking and securities law.
The DLT Act, the DLT trading-facility licence and FINMA's stablecoin guidance fill in the rest, and a dedicated crypto licence is expected in 2027. The guides below explain token classification, the VASP and travel-rule duties, and how the Swiss approach compares with the EU's MiCA regime for a firm deciding where to base.
MiCA gives an EU passport under one prescriptive regime; Switzerland stays principle-based outside it. How the two compare for a crypto firm choosing a base.
MiCA vs Switzerland: Crypto Regulation Compared: ReadThe stablecoin issuer Switzerland regime explained: deposit-taking, bank guarantee or the 2027 reform. A guide for founders before launch. Advice from Goldblum.
Stablecoin Issuer Switzerland: Licensing Guide: ReadHow FINMA sorts tokens into payment, utility and asset types, and why their economic function (not the label) decides which Swiss financial law applies.
FINMA Token Taxonomy: Payment, Utility, Asset: ReadTravel rule in Switzerland: the CHF 1,000 threshold under art. 51a AMLO-FINMA, in force since 1 January 2023, data fields required and the unhosted-wallet duty.
Travel Rule Switzerland: Art. 51a AMLO-FINMA: ReadWhat a VASP is under the FATF definition, and how Switzerland regulates crypto exchanges, transfer and custody businesses by substance under AMLA and FINMA.
What Is a VASP? Crypto Rules in Switzerland: ReadFINMA authorisation, SRO membership and the FinIA licence categories, with the substance, capital and fit-and-proper tests each approval actually requires.
FINMA & Financial LicensingSwiss AML frameworks, the outsourced compliance officer, KYC onboarding and SRO-audit readiness for financial intermediaries and fiduciaries.
AML & KYC ComplianceOpening and running a Swiss bank account, including for non-residents: eligibility, source-of-funds checks, realistic minimums and choosing the right bank.
BankingDescribe your situation in a line or two. A partner replies within one business day, in English, German, French, Spanish or Italian. The first conversation is free and carries no obligation.
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