AMINA Bank Secures Hong Kong License for Institutional Crypto Trading

AMINA Bank, a Swiss FINMA-regulated institution, has achieved a significant regulatory milestone by obtaining a Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) Type 1 license uplift in Hong Kong. This allows the bank to offer comprehensive crypto spot trading and asset safeguarding services exclusively to professional investors, marking a pivotal moment for institutional digital asset adoption in the region.

Key Takeaways

AMINA Bank is the first international banking group to offer institutional-grade crypto trading and custody in Hong Kong.
Services are exclusively available to professional investors, including institutions, corporates, and high-net-worth individuals.
The license enables 24/7 crypto spot trading, asset safeguarding, and seamless deposits/withdrawals.
AMINA aims to bridge the gap for professional investors seeking regulated, institutional-grade crypto access locally.

Expanding Institutional Crypto Access in Hong Kong

AMINA Bank's expansion into Hong Kong addresses a critical need for regulated, institutional-grade crypto services. While Hong Kong has a robust digital asset framework, professional investors and family offices have had limited access to international crypto services with local onboarding capabilities. AMINA HK's license uplift, combined with the group's banking expertise, positions it as essential infrastructure for the growing institutional crypto market.

Michael Benz, Head of AMINA Hong Kong and APAC, stated, "Hong Kong has established itself as the region's most sophisticated market for regulated institutional crypto adoption, and this license uplift positions AMINA to serve the accelerating demand from professional investors seeking trusted access to crypto." He further emphasized AMINA's ability to combine Swiss banking rigor with Hong Kong's digital asset expertise.

Comprehensive Trading and Custody Services

The SFC Type 1 license uplift empowers AMINA HK to offer a suite of services designed to meet the stringent standards of professional investors:

Trading Capabilities: 24/7 professional trading across major digital asset pairs, featuring institutional-grade execution infrastructure. The initial offering includes 13 vetted cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, stablecoins (USDC, USDT), and leading DeFi tokens, with access to institutional-grade liquidity pools.
Regulated Crypto Custody: SFC-compliant custody access with institutional security standards, supporting crypto deposits and withdrawals to whitelisted addresses. The infrastructure is SOC 1 Type 2 and SOC 2 Type 2 certified, ensuring robust asset safeguarding.

AMINA Bank's Global Footprint

Founded in Switzerland in 2018, AMINA Bank AG is a pioneer in crypto banking, holding a Swiss Banking and Securities Dealer License from FINMA. The bank also has a branch in Abu Dhabi Global Markets (ADGM) and holds Type 1, Type 4, and Type 9 licenses from the SFC in Hong Kong. AMINA EU also holds a CASP license in Austria under the MiCAR framework. The bank has been recognized for its innovation in digital assets, receiving several industry awards.

Sources

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