licencemap
Informational only, not legal advice. Verify with qualified counsel before acting. Full disclaimer

🇨🇭 Switzerland

FINMA, function-based (FinTech / DLT)

Crypto (CASP) E-Money (EMI)
Last verified 2026-07-03 Next review 2026-07-17

Data verified: oldest cell 2 days ago (verified 2026-07-01). Individual cells show their own verification date below.

Licence type

No single crypto licence - regulated by economic function (FINMA token taxonomy; DLT Act 2021). Typical exchange/custodian/broker needs SRO/AMLA affiliation (e.g. VQF) plus, where deposits/custody are involved, a FinTech licence (Banking Act Art. 1b); larger deposit-taking needs a banking licence; a DLT trading facility needs FinMIA authorisation.

Verified 2026-07-03 Source: FINMA - FinTech licence: https://www.finma.ch/en/authorisation/fintech/fintech-bewilligung/

Regulator

FINMA (Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority) grants all prudential licences; for AML only, firms affiliate with a FINMA-recognised SRO (e.g. VQF).

Verified 2026-07-03 Source: FINMA - SROs: https://www.finma.ch/en/authorisation/self-regulatory-organisations-sros/

Capital requirement 🔒

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Timeline to authorisation 🔒

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Local substance 🔒

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Application cost 🔒

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Ongoing cost 🔒

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Passporting 🔒

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MiCA CASPs approved 🔒

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Key restrictions 🔒

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Recent changes

FINMA licensed the first DLT trading facility (BX Digital, 18 Mar 2025); Federal Council consultation (22 Oct 2025 - 6 Feb 2026) proposes to ABOLISH the FinTech licence and replace it with two new categories, Payment Instrument Institutions and Crypto-Institutions, under an amended Financial Institutions Act (FinIA). Confirmed timeline as of this check: new provisions are not expected to enter into force before 2027; existing FinTech-licensed firms will be automatically transitioned to the new Payment Instrument Institution licence without a fresh application, provided they meet the new rules within one year of entry into force. The reform also removes the current CHF 100m deposit cap and adds client-fund segregation on insolvency. FINMA Guidance 01/2026 on crypto custody (12 Jan 2026).

Verified 2026-07-03 Source: Federal Council, admin.ch, https://www.admin.ch/en/newnsb/x4TMWQ1SWofNoFx7XyHhY

Difficulty rating 🔒

Unlock difficulty rating with the Founder Pass Source: finma.ch

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Informational only, not legal advice. Entries marked as placeholder or awaiting verification must not be relied on. Confirm all requirements with Switzerland's regulator and qualified local counsel before acting.