Swiss AMINA Bank has obtained a license in Hong Kong, becoming the first international banking group to offer encryption trading.

On November 18, 2025, AMINA Bank's Hong Kong subsidiary, regulated by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority, received an upgrade to a Type 1 license from the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission, becoming the first international banking group to offer comprehensive crypto assets spot trading and custody services in Hong Kong. The platform supports 13 crypto assets, including Bitcoin and Ethereum, providing professional investors with 24/7 trading, SOC 2 verification custody, and institutional-grade execution services.

This milestone event marks the rapid evolution of Hong Kong's digital asset regulatory framework, with a year-on-year growth of 233% in the digital asset market in Hong Kong by 2025, and the demand for secure and compliant custody infrastructure from institutions continues to rise.

Breakthroughs in AMINA Banking Regulation and Market Significance

The upgrade of the Type 1 license obtained by AMINA Bank's Hong Kong subsidiary holds significant symbolic meaning for the industry. As the first international banking group to provide comprehensive crypto trading and custody services in Hong Kong, AMINA's approval reflects the positive attitude of Hong Kong regulators towards traditional financial institutions participating in the digital asset market. This breakthrough occurs during a critical period of rapid development for the Hong Kong digital asset market, which achieved an astonishing 233% year-on-year growth in 2025, fully reflecting institutional investors' demand for allocation in crypto assets.

The regulatory measures of the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission in 2025 demonstrate a clear policy direction. In addition to issuing licenses to nine new virtual asset trading platforms, the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau has also introduced a dedicated virtual asset custodian licensing system, and regulations for stablecoin reserve management officially came into effect on August 1, 2025. These coherent policy combinations provide a clear regulatory path for traditional financial institutions to participate in the digital asset market, and AMINA Bank is one of the first beneficiaries of this policy dividend.

AMINA Banking Service System and Institutional Needs

The services launched by AMINA Bank in Hong Kong precisely target the core needs of institutional investors. According to the official announcement, these services fill a long-standing gap in access to crypto assets for professional investors and family offices. Previously, these clients had very limited options for comprehensive, regulated services within the Hong Kong legal framework, and AMINA's entry provides compliant solutions for these types of investors.

From a global perspective, the digital asset custody industry has grown by over 50% in the past year, reaching a scale of $683 billion by October 2025. In Hong Kong, more than 35 licensed fund management companies now offer institutional-level crypto custody and trading services. Major financial groups such as HSBC have also launched blockchain-based settlement services in 2025, and these developments collectively drive Hong Kong towards its goal of becoming an international digital asset hub.

AMINA Bank's global layout and regulatory qualifications

Established: April 2018 in Switzerland

Core License: Obtained Swiss banking and securities dealer license in August 2019

Global Expansion: Obtained Abu Dhabi ADGM license in 2022, entered Hong Kong in 2023, and obtained license under the Austrian MiCAR framework in 2025.

Hong Kong business: Established Hong Kong operations in 2023, upgraded to Type 1 license in October 2025.

Service Planning: Plans to expand to private fund management, structured products, derivatives, and tokenized assets.

Evolution of the Regulatory Environment in Hong Kong

The Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission introduced the “A-S-P-I-Re” framework in its policy statement in September 2025, which emphasizes accessibility, security, professionalism, innovation, and resilience, and includes 12 measures aimed at improving safety in the virtual asset industry, investor protection, and responsible innovation. This systematic regulatory approach provides clear guidance for traditional financial institutions like AMINA to participate in the digital asset market.

From the perspective of the regulatory evolution path, Hong Kong is adopting a more open attitude. Recently, it was announced that licensed virtual asset trading platforms are allowed to connect with global capital pools and overseas liquidity providers. This policy shift enables local crypto exchanges to mix domestic and international capital, marking a significant change in Hong Kong's previously relatively closed market structure. Although regulation has been continuously improving, this structure had previously restricted market growth.

Competitive Advantages and Differentiation Positioning of AMINA Bank

As a Swiss-regulated bank, AMINA has established a solid regulatory reputation globally. Its obtained Swiss FINMA banking and securities dealer license is regarded as the gold standard in global banking regulation, providing an important trust foundation for its expansion in the Hong Kong market. Unlike traditional crypto-native exchanges, AMINA is able to provide institutional clients with bank-level asset protection and compliance standards.

From the perspective of service differentiation, AMINA's SOC 2 certified custody solution is specifically designed to meet the needs of institutional clients. Compared to the custody services offered by traditional technology companies, bank-grade custody adheres to stricter standards in terms of insurance coverage, compliance procedures, and audit requirements. For institutional investors managing large-scale assets, this differentiation is often a key consideration when choosing a service provider.

AMINA Bank Market Outlook and Strategic Planning

Looking ahead, AMINA plans to expand its services beyond spot trading and custody in Hong Kong. The plans include private fund management, structured products, derivatives, and tokenized assets. This strategy aligns with Hong Kong's roadmap for custodians and stablecoin issuers in 2026, while the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission is expanding rules for access to overseas liquidity.

From the market timing perspective, AMINA's expansion coincides with a critical phase where Hong Kong is actively positioning itself as a global digital asset hub. By allowing global order book connectivity, Hong Kong hopes to increase market depth and narrow the spread while maintaining strict KYC, AML, and investor protection standards. This policy environment provides a unique competitive advantage for traditional financial institutions like AMINA that possess international regulatory qualifications.

The Impact and Competitive Landscape of AMINA in the Banking Industry

As the first international banking group to enter the Hong Kong encryption trading market, AMINA's movements may trigger a follow-up effect among peers. Traditional financial institutions usually adopt a follow-the-leader strategy; once a peer successfully expands into a new market with a clear regulatory path, other institutions often follow suit quickly. This effect may accelerate the integration process between traditional finance and the crypto market.

From the perspective of the competitive landscape, AMINA faces competitors that include not only crypto-native institutions such as mainstream CEXs but also other international banks that may follow suit. However, its first-mover advantage and the regulatory recognition obtained in multiple jurisdictions constitute important competitive barriers. Especially in serving high-net-worth clients and institutional investors, the influence and trust of bank brands remain advantages that crypto-native institutions find difficult to surpass in the short term.

When AMINA Bank obtained that Type 1 license in its office in Central Hong Kong, the boundary between traditional finance and the encryption world was quietly dissolving – this was not just an expansion of a bank's business, but a symbolic moment of the entire financial system opening its doors to digital assets. From Zurich to Hong Kong, AMINA's journey reflects a new direction of capital flow: within the framework of regulation, traditional banks are becoming the latest guides to the encryption world.

FAQ

What license did AMINA Bank obtain in Hong Kong?

Obtained the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission Type 1 license upgrade, becoming the first international banking group in Hong Kong to provide comprehensive Crypto Assets spot trading and custody services, supporting 13 types of Crypto Assets including Bitcoin and Ethereum.

What businesses are allowed under Type 1 license?

Allowing the engagement in securities trading business is a legal requirement for the company to offer crypto trading locally, covering crypto assets spot trading and custody services, with the potential to expand to asset management, structured products, etc. in the future.

What is the development status of the digital asset market in Hong Kong?

Achieving a 233% year-on-year growth by 2025, there is strong demand from institutions for secure and compliant custody, with the global digital asset custody scale reaching $683 billion and more than 35 licensed funds providing institutional-level crypto services.

What regulatory qualification advantages does AMINA Bank have?

Regulated by the Swiss FINMA, it holds licenses for banking and securities trading in Switzerland, and has obtained licenses in multiple jurisdictions such as Abu Dhabi and Austria, establishing a solid global regulatory reputation.

What are AMINA's future development plans in Hong Kong?

The plan is to go beyond spot trading and custody, expanding into private fund management, structured products, derivatives, and tokenized assets, in line with the licensing roadmap for Hong Kong in 2026.