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🇨🇭 Switzerland

FINMA, function-based (FinTech / DLT)

Crypto (CASP / VASP) E-money (EMI)
Last verified 2026-08-15 Next review 2026-08-29

Data verified: oldest cell 4 days ago (verified 2026-08-15). Individual cells show their own verification date below.

Capital requirement Capital requirement is included with access. Included with access Timeline to authorisation Timeline to authorisation is included with access. Included with access Application cost Application cost is included with access. Included with access Passporting Passporting is included with access. Included with access

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 4 days agoSource: 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 4 days agoSource: FINMA - SROs: https://www.finma.ch/en/authorisation/self-regulatory-organisations-sros/

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 4 days agoSource: Federal Council, admin.ch, https://www.admin.ch/en/newnsb/x4TMWQ1SWofNoFx7XyHhY

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Not legal advice. Entries marked placeholder or awaiting verification shouldn't be relied on. Verify with Switzerland's regulator and qualified local counsel before acting.