Switzerland's financial regulator has taken a historic step in the crypto sector. The Financial Market Supervisory Authority, known as FINMA, authorized Crypto Fund AG, a subsidiary of Crypto Finance
Switzerland's financial regulator has taken a historic step in the crypto sector. The Financial Market Supervisory Authority, known as FINMA, authorized Crypto Fund AG, a subsidiary of Crypto Finance AG, to operate as an asset manager for digital assets.
Crypto Fund provides institutional investors with access to cryptocurrency markets through various fund products. Jan Brzezek, the company's CEO and co-founder and a former UBS banker, explained the significance: "The importance of crypto assets is growing and our aim is to accelerate maturity in these markets. Regulatory recognition remains highly sought after by participants, as seen in recent press and company statements. The FINMA authorization for Crypto Fund AG is a key step for our clients and investors, and for us in becoming a leading provider of digital asset services worldwide."
As a licensed asset manager under Swiss law, Crypto Fund can manage and distribute investment funds, both Swiss and foreign, to qualified investors. The company can also provide investment guidance to institutional clients. Before obtaining this license, crypto firms in Switzerland operated in a narrow window. The rules limited them to money laundering compliance measures, without the broader prudential oversight that comes with formal regulation.
Mathias Maurer, Crypto Fund's chief operating officer, reflected on the achievement: "The authorization represents our professional work over the last 12 months and is a major milestone for us."
The firm appointed Fabian Schär to its board of directors. Schär directs the Center for Innovative Finance at the University of Basel's business school, where he focuses on blockchain applications, smart contracts, tokenized financial assets, and blockchain systems. He authored the book "Bitcoin, Blockchain und Kryptoassets."
Crypto Finance completed the groundwork for this move when it obtained a fund license in June, clearing the way to offer collective investment products. The parent company operates three separate divisions: Crypto Fund handles asset management, Crypto Broker AG runs trading operations, and Crypto Storage AG manages custody services. All three divisions serve institutional investors looking to build exposure to blockchain technology. The company is headquartered in Zug, part of Switzerland's "Crypto Valley," with additional offices in Zurich and Geneva.
