Crypto Company Switzerland
Set up a cryptocurrency company in Switzerland.
Crypto Valley Zug. FINMA framework. End-to-end.
Switzerland is the global home of Crypto Valley — 1,000+ blockchain companies in Zug, the Ethereum Foundation, and a purpose-built DLT Act framework in force since 2021. There is no standalone Swiss crypto licence: FINMA applies its existing financial-market law based on your business model. Most exchanges and brokers need SRO membership, not a full FINMA authorisation. Goldblum & Partner AG guides you from token classification to incorporation, SRO or FINMA application, and compliant bank account opening.
Crypto Valley Zug
1,000+ crypto firms
DLT Act 2021
Legal certainty framework
11.85%
Zug combined CIT
2–3 mo
SRO membership timeline
Regulatory Framework
No standalone "crypto licence" in Switzerland —
token classification determines your pathway
FINMA does not issue a document labelled a "crypto licence." Switzerland applies its existing financial-market framework — AMLA, Banking Act, Financial Market Infrastructure Act, and the DLT Act 2021 — to digital-asset operators. The applicable authorisation type depends entirely on what your business does, and that determination starts with token classification.
Token type
Examples
FINMA treatment
Regulatory path
Hybrid tokens: assessed case by case
Tokens that combine features of multiple categories — for example, a utility token with built-in profit-sharing or a payment token used also as a governance instrument — are assessed by FINMA on a case-by-case basis. FINMA published its initial ICO guidance in 2018 and updates its position through annual reports and thematic publications. When in doubt, a pre-enquiry (Voranfrage) to FINMA before token issuance is the only way to obtain regulatory certainty in Switzerland.
Regulatory Pathways
Four regulatory pathways for Swiss
crypto and blockchain companies
Most early-stage crypto companies begin with SRO membership and upgrade as operations scale. The correct pathway is determined by business model and token type — not by preference. Selecting the wrong pathway at formation stage is a common and costly error.
SRO membership
AMLA Art. 2(3); GwG
The correct path for most early-stage crypto companies: exchanges, OTC brokers, crypto payment processors, and non-custodial or lightly custodial platforms. Affiliating with a FINMA-recognised SRO (VQF, PolyReg, ARIF, SO-FIT) satisfies AMLA compliance obligations without requiring direct FINMA supervision. Application includes business plan, AML concept, KYC procedures, org chart, and fit-and-proper declarations.
Suitable for: Spot exchanges, OTC brokers, payment processors, NFT platforms, lower-volume VASPs
FinTech licence
BankG Art. 1b
For custodial platforms and stablecoin issuers accepting public deposits up to CHF 100,000,000. Funds may not be invested and no interest may be paid. FINMA supervises FinTech licence holders directly. An intermediate tier between SRO membership and a full banking licence — lighter capital and oversight burden than a bank, but more intensive than SRO.
Suitable for: Custodial crypto platforms, stablecoin issuers (non-interest), crypto deposit services
DLT trading facility
FinfraG Art. 73a–73i
Purpose-built FINMA licence for operators of multilateral trading venues for DLT securities (Registerwertrechte, OR Art. 973d). Uniquely allows admission of non-professional participants and combination of trading and settlement functions. Infrastructure-grade licence — highest capital requirement and FINMA scrutiny.
Suitable for: Tokenised-securities trading venues, DLT settlement infrastructure, STO platforms
Banking licence
BankG Art. 1a
Required for full crypto custody at banking scale, deposit-taking above the FinTech licence ceiling, or any platform offering interest on crypto deposits. Highest regulatory burden. AMINA Bank (formerly SEBA Bank) and Sygnum Bank hold this licence as Swiss crypto-native banks.
Suitable for: Crypto custody banks, full-service digital asset banks, interest-bearing crypto platforms
Innovation sandbox: testing before full authorisation
Under BankV Art. 6, platforms accepting public deposits not exceeding CHF 1,000,000 are exempt from the banking licence requirement, provided funds are not invested, no interest is paid, and depositors are informed in writing that the entity is not supervised by FINMA and deposits are not covered by deposit protection. This sandbox applies to crypto platforms and allows limited-scale operations before incurring the costs of a FinTech licence or banking licence. AML obligations under the AMLA still apply from day one — the sandbox is not a regulatory-free zone. SRO membership remains required even for sandbox-eligible operators.
Key Data
Crypto Company Formation in Switzerland
Why Switzerland — and why Zug specifically
1,000+
Blockchain companies in Zug
Ethereum Foundation, Cardano, Solana Foundation — all incorporated in Zug.
2021
DLT Act in force
Switzerland has a dedicated legal framework for blockchain and digital asset companies.
AG
Typical formation vehicle
Swiss AG preferred for crypto companies: shareholder privacy, FINMA licensing pathway.
11.85%
Corporate tax rate (Zug)
Combined effective CIT rate — lowest in Switzerland. Key advantage for token treasury holding.
Entity Selection
AG or GmbH for your Swiss crypto company?
capital, governance, and licence eligibility
The AG (Aktiengesellschaft) is the standard form for operators seeking direct FINMA authorisation. The GmbH is commonly used for SRO-path operators. The table below shows the key structural differences relevant to crypto company formation.
Feature
AG (Aktiengesellschaft)
GmbH
Key SROs for Swiss crypto businesses — VQF, PolyReg, ARIF, SO-FIT
VQF
Verein zur Qualitätssicherung von Finanzdienstleistungen
One of the largest Swiss SROs; active in crypto/blockchain space; member fee structure based on business volume.
PolyReg
Allgemeine Selbstregulierungsorganisation
Accepts crypto exchanges and VASP operators; known for straightforward application process for tech-native businesses.
ARIF
Association Romande des Intermédiaires Financiers
French-speaking SRO; relevant for Geneva-based crypto operators and asset-management adjacent structures.
SO-FIT
Self-Regulatory Organisation for Financial Intermediaries and Trustees
Active in the fintech and digital-asset space; accepts members across multiple crypto business models.
Formation Process
How to set up a crypto company in Switzerland
eight steps from mapping to ongoing compliance
Incorporating the legal entity is the shortest phase. The regulatory process — SRO application or FINMA authorisation — is the work. The sequence below reflects the correct order; diverging from it typically results in delays and rework.
01
Regulatory mapping and token classification
Determine which FINMA category applies to your business model: financial intermediation (SRO path), FinTech licence, banking, securities dealer, DLT trading facility, or fund management. Classify your tokens (payment, utility, or asset) under the FINMA framework. Errors at this stage produce wrong-entity structuring and incorrect SRO selection — both require correction before authorisation proceeds.
02
Entity selection and name reservation
Choose between AG (CHF 100,000 minimum capital) and GmbH (CHF 20,000 minimum capital). Reserve the company name via ZEFIX — the Swiss commercial register search portal. The articles of association should explicitly reference digital-asset and blockchain activities to facilitate subsequent SRO review and bank account opening.
03
Incorporation (notary + Handelsregister)
Execute articles of association before a Swiss notary. Deposit share capital into a blocked bank account (capital deposit confirmation required for registration). File with the cantonal Handelsregister. Timeline: 1–3 weeks from notarisation to commercial register entry; 2–6 weeks end-to-end including bank capital deposit.
04
Registered office, board, and AML officer
Establish a physical registered office in Switzerland (not a mailbox). Appoint a Swiss-resident director or authorised signatory per OR Art. 718(4) (AG) or OR Art. 814(3) (GmbH). Designate the AML compliance officer. For foreign founders without Swiss-resident personnel, Goldblum & Partner AG provides nominee director and registered office services.
05
SRO application or FINMA pre-enquiry
SRO path: prepare membership application for VQF, PolyReg, ARIF, or another recognised SRO — business plan, AML concept, KYC procedures, org chart, fit-and-proper declarations. Typical timeline: 2–3 months from complete submission. FINMA path: conduct a pre-enquiry (Voranfrage) before submitting a full authorisation dossier. Timeline: 12–18 months.
06
AML/KYC infrastructure build-out
Implement AML/KYC procedures, transaction monitoring systems (including on-chain blockchain analytics for crypto-native platforms), Travel Rule compliance tools, data-security policies, and internal AML procedures before the SRO admission audit or FINMA inspection. These systems must be operational, not planned, at the time of first audit.
07
Bank account opening
Swiss banks apply enhanced due diligence to crypto companies. Approach crypto-specialist or crypto-friendly banks early — in parallel with Step 5, not after. Required documentation: articles of association, Handelsregister extract, business plan, AML concept, SRO membership letter or FINMA authorisation, and UBO declarations (CDB 20 Form A/K/T).
08
Ongoing compliance
Maintain the AML programme. Complete annual AML audits with an approved auditor. Report suspicious transactions to MROS (Money Reporting Office Switzerland). File annual accounts with the commercial register. Monitor FATF Travel Rule updates and FINMA guidance revisions. Adapt policies as regulatory requirements evolve.
Banking: the most common formation bottleneck for Swiss crypto companies
Swiss banks apply enhanced customer due diligence (CDD) to crypto-related companies under the Swiss Banking Due Diligence Agreement (CDB 20). Many traditional Swiss banks decline crypto clients or apply multi-month review processes. The most reliable options are crypto-specialist institutions — AMINA Bank (formerly SEBA Bank) and Sygnum Bank, both FINMA-licensed — or cantonal and regional banks that have established crypto onboarding programmes (Hypothekarbank Lenzburg, PostFinance). Start the banking process in parallel with your SRO application, not after confirmation. Present a complete documentation package from the outset: articles, commercial register extract, business plan, AML concept, SRO application status or FINMA authorisation, and UBO declarations.
Crypto Valley Zug
Why Zug for your blockchain company
tax, ecosystem, and legal certainty
Zug offers Switzerland's lowest combined corporate tax rate, a dense concentration of blockchain-specialist legal and fiduciary advisors, and the established Crypto Valley ecosystem. FINMA authorisation does not require a Zug domicile — but for most crypto founders, the ecosystem advantages are decisive.
Crypto Valley Zug — key facts
Zug canton hosts a substantial concentration of European blockchain activity. The Crypto Valley Association (EVG), headquartered in Zug, tracks the ecosystem and publishes periodic reports on growth.
Switzerland's lowest mainstream combined corporate income tax rate (federal + cantonal + communal). Post-STAF 2020. Applicable to all Swiss companies domiciled in Zug including crypto companies.
The Canton of Zug became the first government entity in the world to accept Bitcoin for municipal tax payments. This early institutional acceptance catalysed the Crypto Valley ecosystem.
Switzerland's DLT Act package introduced DLT securities as a legally enforceable asset class and the DLT trading facility licence, giving Zug-based operators access to a purpose-built regulatory framework for tokenised instruments.
Private capital gains on crypto are generally not subject to Swiss income tax where the holder is not classified as a professional trader (DBG Art. 16(3)). Professional-trader classification criteria: trading frequency, leverage, holding period, proportion of income. Corporate entities pay ordinary CIT on all gains.
The Ethereum Foundation was incorporated in Zug in 2014. Polkadot (Web3 Foundation), IOTA, and Cardano have also established entities in Zug — reinforcing the canton's status as the birthplace of major blockchain protocols.
Approximate costs for a Swiss crypto company formation
All figures are indicative estimates. Contact us for a case-specific quote.
Other Swiss cantons for crypto companies
FINMA authorisation does not require a Zug domicile. Geneva is relevant for asset-management and family-office-adjacent crypto structures. Schwyz (Freienbach) offers a combined corporate tax rate near 12% as an alternative to Zug. Lucerne and Zurich also have active fintech and blockchain communities. Zug's primary advantage remains the Crypto Valley ecosystem density and the 11.85% combined tax rate — the lowest of any mainstream Swiss canton.
FAQ
Frequently asked
questions
Precise answers to the most common questions about forming a company in Switzerland. For specific advice on your structure, book a free consultation.
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Baarerstrasse 25 · 6300 Zug · Switzerland · Est. 2007