Swiss Crypto Licence

Swiss Crypto Licence and Crypto Company Acquisition

Everybody asks us for a “Swiss crypto licence”. Strictly speaking, for most crypto businesses there is no such licence today. What Switzerland requires from a crypto exchange, a broker, a payment service or a wallet provider is affiliation with a self-regulatory organisation (SRO) under the Anti-Money Laundering Act. A FINMA licence only comes into play when the activity crosses into banking, securities or asset management territory. That is about to change: the Federal Council has proposed a dedicated licence for crypto institutions. FintechLex sets up the right structure for you now, or sells you one that is already running, and keeps you ready for the new licence when it arrives.

Companies for Sale Swiss SRO Licence

Today

What a Swiss crypto company needs today

In practice, a Swiss crypto business is a Swiss company (AG or GmbH) affiliated with an SRO such as VQF, SO-FIT or PolyReg. The SRO checks your anti-money laundering framework, your compliance officer and your management before admitting you, and an AML auditor reviews you every year. At least one person with signing power must live in Switzerland, and the SRO expects real decisions to be taken by real people, not by a letterbox.

The trap is the activity itself. Exchanging, transferring or holding crypto for clients is SRO territory, as long as client assets are kept out of your own bankruptcy. Done the wrong way, custody turns into deposit-taking, and deposit-taking is a FINMA matter. The same applies if you take client money in fiat, trade tokens that qualify as securities, run a trading platform or manage client portfolios. Before you buy anything, we map each of your activities against what an SRO allows and what needs a licence. Better to hear it from us than from FINMA.

The reform

What changes with the new crypto institution licence

On 22 October 2025, the Federal Council opened a consultation on two new licences under the Financial Institutions Act. The payment instrument institution replaces the current FinTech licence: no more CHF 100 million cap on client funds, client money segregated if the institution fails, and the exclusive right to issue a certain type of Swiss stablecoin. The crypto institution is new: it covers custody and trading services for crypto-assets, including stablecoins issued abroad, and may operate an organised trading facility. Its rules are modelled on those for securities firms.

The consultation closed on 6 February 2026. The Federal Council announced that its bill would go to Parliament in the second half of 2026 at the earliest, so the new licence is not in force yet and Parliament will set the transition periods. Our view is simple: the SRO company remains the fastest way into the market, and the company you set up or buy today is the one that will apply for the new licence tomorrow. One more point nobody likes to hear: a Swiss licence, old or new, gives you no passport into the European Union. For EU clients you need a MiCA (CASP) authorisation, which we also handle.

Three routes

Build, use a shelf company, or buy one ready

From scratch

We incorporate the company, build the AML framework and file the SRO application. Cheapest route, but count months, not weeks.

Shelf company plus application

An existing clean company, so you skip the incorporation and the “brand new company” questions from banks.

Ready-made SRO company

Already affiliated, some with crypto (VASP) scope and payment accounts pre-opened. The fastest route. Every company we sell comes with a due diligence report and a warranty signed by someone who stands behind the sale. See our Swiss SRO companies for sale.

Then comes the part brokers usually forget to mention: the bank account. Swiss banks rarely open accounts for young crypto companies with modest volumes. We arrange payment accounts through licensed electronic money institutions and white-label partners, so your company can actually move money on day one.

What we do

What we do for you

Map your activities: SRO, FINMA licence, or a mix of both

Incorporate the company, or source and check a shelf or ready-made SRO company

Prepare the SRO file: AML framework, compliance officer, internal directives

Arrange accounts and payment rails for the company and its clients

Prepare you for the crypto institution licence once the law is passed

Add MiCA (CASP) authorisation if you want to serve EU clients

Frequently asked questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a Swiss crypto licence today?

Not as a single licence. Most crypto businesses need SRO affiliation; some activities need a FINMA licence. The dedicated crypto institution licence is still going through the legislative process.

How long does it take?

A new SRO application takes months. A ready-made SRO company can operate within weeks once the purchase has closed and the SRO has approved the change of control.

Do I need to live in Switzerland?

You do not, but at least one person with signing power must live in Switzerland. We can provide directors, a compliance officer and a Swiss address through our partners.

Will my SRO company still be valid after the reform?

The new licence is not in force yet. Once it is, the businesses it covers will have to apply within the transition period Parliament sets. Owning a running SRO company is how you get into the market while you wait, with a company that already has a track record.

Can I serve clients in the European Union?

Not on the strength of a Swiss licence. EU clients require MiCA authorisation in an EU country. We can set up both and tell you which one to start with.

Request your Swiss crypto roadmap

Tell us what your platform will do. We will tell you, in plain words, whether an SRO company is enough, what a FINMA licence would add, and whether to build or buy. Write to insight@fintechlex.com or WhatsApp +41 787 983 770.

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