BancaStato Enables Regulated Crypto Trading for Swiss Customers

Swiss cantonal lender BancaStato has expanded its services to include regulated cryptocurrency trading for its customers. The bank, established in 1915 to support the economy of southern Switzerland's Italian-speaking region, partnered with digital asset specialist Sygnum and core banking technology provider Avaloq.

The collaboration allows account holders to purchase, retain, and dispose of Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and Solana through a direct API connection. Transactions flow through Sygnum's business-to-business infrastructure, eliminating the need for a separate order-management system.

Digital assets acquired by BancaStato customers are held in Sygnum's multi-layered institutional custody arrangement, which combines hardware and software safeguards, rigorous internal governance, and independent external audits. This setup keeps the assets off the bank's balance sheet, providing an extra layer of protection in case of insolvency.

The partnership marks a significant milestone for BancaStato, as it becomes the first institution running Avaloq's SaaS environment to offer crypto trading via a direct Sygnum API connection. The solution is part of a growing trend, with more than 25 banks and financial firms already using Sygnum's B2B platform.