Crypto & Digital Assets - Switzerland

RegulatedTechnology-neutral application of existing financial market law: Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA, SR 955.0) with FINMA-recognized SRO membership for intermediary activities; Banking Act / FinTech licence and Financial Market Infrastructure Act (FMIA, incl. the 2021 DLT package) for deposit-taking, custody and trading. Supervised by FINMA. A FinIA reform creating dedicated 'Crypto-Institution' and 'Payment Instrument Institution' licences was in consultation (closed 6 Feb 2026) with expected entry into force in 2027.

Switzerland has no standalone 'VASP' regime; it applies existing law on a technology-neutral basis. Crypto exchanges, brokers, OTC desks and non-custodial payment/wallet providers operate as AMLA financial intermediaries via membership in a FINMA-recognized self-regulatory organization (SRO), while activities involving public deposits, full custody with key control, stablecoin redemption or trading of tokenized securities trigger direct FINMA authorization (FinTech, banking, or FMIA/DLT trading facility licence). A 2025–26 FinIA reform would replace the FinTech licence with two new FINMA-authorized crypto categories from ~2027.

Machine-assisted translation · verified 5/23/2026 · orientation, not legal advice. English version →