Nikolai Timofejev
15 years in FinTech and payments. Maps your business model to the right licence scope and leads the file all the way to SRO approval or the FINMA decision, including banking and payment rails.
Get a crypto license in Switzerland.
Crypto Valley is still the deepest blockchain cluster in Europe - 1,700+ companies. The SRO route puts an exchange or brokerage on rails in 8-12 weeks; FINMA's licences cover the rest. We structure both.
27 yrs
on the international marketon the market
60+
in-house specialistsspecialists
400+
Crypto licenses obtainedlicenses obtained
Updated
Switzerland in brief
Crypto Valley: the original, still the deepest.
Switzerland regulated crypto before regulating crypto was normal: the Ethereum Foundation incorporated in Zug in 2014, the DLT Act arrived in 2021, and today Crypto Valley counts more than 1,700 active blockchain companies. The entry route is uniquely pragmatic - exchange, OTC brokerage and payment services run under AML supervision through a self-regulatory organisation (VQF or PolyReg), reachable in 8-12 weeks from incorporation, with FINMA's FinTech, banking and DLT-trading licences above it for models that hold deposits or run venues.
The map is shifting in your favour if you move deliberately: in October 2025 FINMA proposed dedicated Payment Institution and Crypto Institution licences, expected in late 2026-2027, which will move custody and trading supervision from the SROs to FINMA directly. Add CARF data collection from January 2026, canton-level corporate tax near 12% and tax-free private capital gains, and Switzerland remains what it has always been - the quality jurisdiction. No EU passport, though: for the 27 markets we pair it with a MiCA CASP.
Crypto Valley: 1,700+ blockchain companies. The SRO route (VQF/PolyReg) puts exchange and brokerage on rails in 8-12 weeks; FINMA licences cover deposits and venues.
In 2026: CARF data collection began, and FINMA's proposed Crypto Institution licence (2026-27) will reshape custody. No EU passport - we pair with MiCA.
The routes
The fast SRO route - and FINMA licences above it.
Two layers, cleanly separated. AML-supervised SRO membership covers exchange, brokerage and payments without a full FINMA licence. The route most crypto businesses actually need. Deposit-taking, custody at scale and trading venues climb into FINMA territory: FinTech, banking or DLT licences today, the proposed Crypto Institution licence tomorrow.
SRO membership covers exchange and brokerage; FINMA licences cover deposits, custody at scale and venues.
01 - SRO ROUTE
Exchange, brokerage & payments
A Swiss company plus SRO membership (VQF or PolyReg) puts a compliant crypto business on rails in 8-12 weeks. The pragmatic entry the Valley is famous for.
A Swiss company plus SRO membership (VQF or PolyReg) puts a compliant crypto business on rails in 8-12 weeks. The pragmatic entry the Valley is famous for.
- ✓Crypto ↔ fiat and crypto ↔ crypto exchange
- ✓OTC brokerage and payment services
- ✓Non-custodial and limited-custody models
- ✓Swiss AG/GmbH from CHF 20,000 capital
- ✓SRO fees CHF 4,000-6,000 in year one
- ✓8-12 weeks from incorporation in practice
02 - FINMA LICENCES
Custody · venues · 2026 reformFinTech, DLT and what comes next
Holding public deposits up to CHF 100M. The FinTech licence. Running a venue. The DLT trading facility. And from late 2026-27, FINMA's proposed Crypto Institution licence reshapes custody and trading supervision.
FinTech (CHF 100M deposits), DLT facility, and the Crypto Institution licence coming 2026-27.
- ✓FinTech licence - deposits up to CHF 100M
- ✓DLT trading facility for tokenised markets
- ✓Full banking licence for bank-grade models
- ✓Custody per FINMA Guidance 01/2026 - segregated
- ✓Crypto Institution licence expected 2026-27
- ✓We future-proof the structure for the reform
Costs and timelines are confirmed for your case before any work begins. The SRO route prices from CHF 20,000 company capital plus CHF 4,000-6,000 first-year SRO fees; FINMA licences are scoped individually. Everything is itemised in your quote.
Why Switzerland
Quality signalling, pragmatic entry, tax-free private gains.
The framework combines the AML Act's SRO system, the 2021 DLT Act and FINMA's licence ladder. With the proposed Crypto Institution licence about to consolidate it. Switzerland is never the cheapest; it is consistently the most respected non-EU flag in crypto.
✓
The 8-12 week entry
SRO membership through VQF or PolyReg authorises exchange, brokerage and payment models in weeks. VQF has reviewed most crypto business models already, and the file shows it.VQF/PolyReg membership. The pragmatic Swiss route.
✓
A licence ladder that scales
Start under SRO supervision, add the FinTech licence when you hold client funds (up to CHF 100M), graduate to a DLT trading facility or bank when volumes justify - no forced re-domiciliation at any step.SRO → FinTech → DLT/bank, no re-domiciliation.
✓
The 2026 reform, in your favour
FINMA's proposed Payment Institution and Crypto Institution licences (expected late 2026-27) will move custody and trading under direct FINMA supervision. Structures we build now are designed to convert cleanly.Crypto Institution licence. We build to convert cleanly.
✓
Custody rules that protect you
FINMA Guidance 01/2026 requires client assets to be segregated and insolvency-proof. Omnibus commingling is out. Painful for cowboys, priceless for firms selling trust.Guidance 01/2026: segregated, insolvency-proof.
✓
Crypto Valley gravity
1,700+ blockchain companies, the foundations of Ethereum, Cardano and Solana, banks that understand tokens and a talent pool no other European hub matches.1,700+ firms, token-literate banks, deep talent.
✓
Tax-free private gains
Private investors pay no capital gains tax on crypto; companies pay canton-competitive rates near 11.9% in Zug. CARF reporting runs from January 2026. Clean by design.No CGT for private investors; ~12% CIT in Zug.
How it compares
How Switzerland differs from the EU desks.
Switzerland trades the EU passport for speed of entry and brand. The real comparison depends on your market map, and often ends with a Swiss base paired with a MiCA licence.
Switzerland vs other jurisdictions
| Feature |  Switzerland | Other jurisdictions |
|---|---|---|
| Entry route | SRO in 8-12 weeks | 4-9 month authorisations |
| EU market access | None - no MiCA passport | EU CASP covers 27 states |
| Private capital gains | Tax-free | Often taxed 15-30% |
| Brand with banks | The strongest non-EU flag | Varies |
Entry route
SwitzerlandSRO in 8-12 weeks
Other jurisdictions4-9 month authorisations
EU market access
SwitzerlandNone - no MiCA passport
Other jurisdictionsEU CASP covers 27 states
Private capital gains
SwitzerlandTax-free
Other jurisdictionsOften taxed 15-30%
Brand with banks
SwitzerlandThe strongest non-EU flag
Other jurisdictionsVaries
Country by country
| Country | License type | Taxation | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Switzerland | SRO route · FINMA licences | ~12-14% CIT · private gains tax-free | Fast entry, reform coming 2026-27 |
 Liechtenstein | MiCA CASP (FMA) · TVTG | 12.5% CIT | EEA passport into the EU market |
 Czech Republic | MiCA CASP (ČNB) | 21% CIT | EU passport, 4-6 months |
 UAE (Dubai) | VARA VASP by activity | 9% CIT · 0% personal | Substance-heavy, 3-9 months |
SwitzerlandLicense typeSRO route · FINMA licences
Taxation~12-14% CIT · private gains tax-free
RequirementsFast entry, reform coming 2026-27
LiechtensteinLicense typeMiCA CASP (FMA) · TVTG
Taxation12.5% CIT
RequirementsEEA passport into the EU market
Czech RepublicLicense typeMiCA CASP (ČNB)
Taxation21% CIT
RequirementsEU passport, 4-6 months
UAE (Dubai)License typeVARA VASP by activity
Taxation9% CIT · 0% personal
RequirementsSubstance-heavy, 3-9 months
Before you start
Requirements for the Swiss routes.Requirements for the Swiss routes.
The SRO route is documentation-driven and fast; FINMA licences add prudential depth. The checklist below covers the entry route most projects take, with the FINMA add-ons flagged.
01
Swiss company. An AG or GmbH with its seat in Switzerland; share capital from CHF 20,000.
02
Swiss-resident directorship. At least one director with signing rights resident in Switzerland.
03
SRO membership application. VQF or PolyReg, with a business model description they can classify.
04
AML file. KYC and monitoring procedures under the AML Act, a named compliance officer, travel-rule readiness.
05
Banking. A Swiss account for capital and operations; crypto-tolerant banks shortlisted early.
06
Fit & proper founders. Clean records and source-of-wealth evidence for qualifying shareholders.
07
Custody design. Segregation per FINMA Guidance 01/2026 if you touch client assets; omnibus commingling is out.
08
CARF onboarding. Transaction-data collection runs from January 2026; reporting flows built from day one.
09
For deposits at scale: the FinTech licence. Public deposits to CHF 100M, capital 3% of deposits (min CHF 300k).
10
For venues: the DLT trading facility licence under the DLT Act.
11
Reform-proofing. Structures designed to convert to the proposed Crypto Institution licence (2026-27).
01
Swiss AG/GmbH. Capital from CHF 20,000.
02
Swiss-resident director with signing rights.
03
SRO application. VQF or PolyReg.
04
AML file. KYC, monitoring, compliance officer.
05
Swiss banking for capital and operations.
06
Fit & proper founders with source of wealth.
07
Custody segregation per Guidance 01/2026.
08
CARF data flows from January 2026.
09
FinTech licence for deposits to CHF 100M.
10
DLT facility licence for venues.
Reflects the AML Act, DLT Act, FINMA guidance and the October 2025 licensing proposals as of 2026.AML Act, DLT Act, FINMA guidance and the Oct 2025 proposals, as of 2026.
How it works
From first call to a supervised Swiss business.
01
Route and canton
SRO or FINMA track; Zug or another canton; the tax and banking map. Fixed in writing before any spend.SRO or FINMA; Zug or elsewhere. Fixed in writing.
02
Company and directors
AG or GmbH incorporation, capital from CHF 20,000, Swiss-resident director and the banking file.AG/GmbH, CHF 20k+, resident director, banking.
03
The SRO application
Business-model description and AML pack to VQF or PolyReg. Approval typically lands 8-12 weeks after incorporation.VQF/PolyReg. Approval 8-12 weeks after incorporation.
04
Custody and CARF plumbing
Segregated custody per Guidance 01/2026 where relevant, transaction-data collection for CARF from day one.Segregation per 01/2026; data collection from day one.
05
Scale and the FINMA track
FinTech licence for deposits, DLT facility for venues, and a clean conversion path to the Crypto Institution licence when it arrives.FinTech, DLT, and the Crypto Institution conversion.
Quick facts
Fast routeSRO (VQF / PolyReg)
Entry timeline8-12 weeks
Company capitalfrom CHF 20,000
SRO fees, year 1CHF 4,000-6,000
FinTech licenceDeposits to CHF 100M
ReformCrypto Institution 2026-27
CARFData from Jan 2026
EU passportNone - pair with MiCA
SRO timelines assume a complete file; FINMA-track licences are scoped individually.
On the ground in Switzerland
Run from our Zug office.
Prifinance - Switzerland
Zug · Switzerland
Zug, Switzerland
01
Swiss company formation
AG or GmbH in Zug or the canton that fits, capital from CHF 20,000, resident-director solutions included.AG/GmbH in Zug, resident-director solutions included.
02
The SRO file
Business-model description, AML pack and the membership application. Through VQF or PolyReg to approval in 8-12 weeks.Model description + AML pack. Approval in 8-12 weeks.
03
FINMA-track projects
FinTech and DLT licence scoping with Swiss counsel, custody design to Guidance 01/2026, reform-proofed for the Crypto Institution licence.FinTech/DLT scoping, custody design, reform-proofed.
04
The EU pairing
No MiCA passport from Switzerland. Where you need the 27 markets, we add a CASP from our Zug offices.MiCA CASP from our Zug offices where the 27 markets matter.
We also have offices in
Vilnius
Lithuania
Gedimino pr. 2
Prague
Czech Republic
Vlkova 532/8, Žižkov
Dubai
UAE
33 Level, Al Saqr Business Tower
London
United Kingdom
7 Bell Yard
Madeira
Portugal
Rua da Alegria 31, 1F
Budapest
Hungary
Korányi Sándor u. 4
Istanbul
Turkey
Perpa Ticaret Merkezi, A Blok
Good to know
Taxation of crypto companies in Switzerland.
Switzerland's tax pitch is precision, not zero: canton-competitive corporate rates near 12%, no capital gains tax on private investors, and a rulebook the tax offices actually publish.
Corporate tax ~12-14%
Combined federal-cantonal rates land near 11.9% in Zug and 12-14% across crypto-friendly cantons. Ordinary, predictable, treaty-backed.~11.9% in Zug. Ordinary, predictable, treaty-backed.
Private gains: tax-free
Individuals holding crypto as private wealth pay no capital gains tax. The cleanest founder-side rule in Europe. Professional traders are taxed as businesses.No CGT for private investors; pros are taxed.
Wealth tax, small print
Cantonal wealth tax (roughly 0.1-0.5%) applies to year-end holdings at published FTA rates. Modest, but it must be declared.~0.1-0.5% cantonal on year-end holdings.
VAT: exchange exempt
Exchanging crypto for fiat is VAT-exempt as a financial service; standard Swiss VAT of 8.1% touches only ordinary supplies.Financial-service exemption; standard VAT 8.1%.
CARF from 2026
Switzerland collects crypto transaction data from 1 January 2026, with first exchanges to 74 partner states in 2027. Build reporting in, not on.Data collected now, exchanged with 74 states from 2027.
100+ tax treaties
The Swiss network keeps dividends, interest and royalties predictable, and Swiss substance makes access genuine.Swiss substance makes access genuine.
Tax summary
Corporate tax (Zug)~11.9%
Private capital gainsTax-free
Wealth tax~0.1-0.5% cantonal
VAT on crypto exchangeExempt
Standard VAT8.1%
CARF reportingData from 2026
Tax treaties100+
*Rates vary by canton; professional-trader status changes the founder-side answer. We model both before you commit.
Turnkey professional support
Experienced lawyers and international consultants.
We provide end-to-end support, from company registration and the application file to regulatory interaction and compliance oversight - with an individualized approach to each client.
Oleksii Kindratenko
Builds the application itself: Swiss AG or GmbH, AML/KYC policy pack, capital structure and tax registrations. His document sets are the reason reviews finish in months, not years.
Eugeniu Bevziuc
First point of contact for international founders. Runs the whole setup remotely, across time zones and languages - from the first call to a live, supervised Swiss business.
Follow Prifinance
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Switzerland · FINMA / SRO
Launch your crypto project in Crypto Valley with expert support.
Full-service assistance - from Swiss incorporation to SRO membership or a FINMA licence.
Get a consultation →Free legal opinion
Is Switzerland the right fit for your project?
Our legal team will analyze your case at no cost and provide a written legal opinion: which route, canton, or licence ladder fits your business.
Written assessment within 2-5 business days
Request a free conclusion →FAQ
The Swiss crypto licence - what clients ask.
What licence does a crypto business need in Switzerland?+
Most models - exchange, OTC brokerage, payments, limited custody - run under AML supervision via SRO membership (VQF or PolyReg). Holding public deposits needs the FinTech licence (up to CHF 100M); operating a tokenised venue needs the DLT trading facility licence; bank-grade models need a banking licence.
How fast is the SRO route?+
8-12 weeks from incorporation for a well-prepared file. First-year SRO fees run CHF 4,000-6,000, and the Swiss company itself starts at CHF 20,000 capital.
What is changing in 2026?+
Two things: CARF - Switzerland collects crypto transaction data from 1 January 2026, exchanging with 74 states from 2027, and FINMA's October 2025 proposal for dedicated Payment Institution and Crypto Institution licences, expected late 2026-27, which will move custody and trading supervision from SROs to FINMA.
Does the reform kill the SRO route?+
No - it reshapes the top of the ladder. Exchange and brokerage entry remains SRO-supervised for now; custody and trading at scale will migrate to the Crypto Institution licence. We design structures today so they convert cleanly.
What do the custody rules require?+
FINMA Guidance 01/2026: client assets must be segregated and insolvency-proof, with technical evidence - omnibus wallets that commingle client and corporate funds are not acceptable.
Can I serve the EU from Switzerland?+
Not under MiCA - Switzerland has no passport. Cross-border service into the EU is limited and shrinking; groups that need the 27 markets pair the Swiss base with a MiCA CASP from our Zug offices.
What substance is expected?+
A real Swiss company: at least one Swiss-resident director with signing rights, a named compliance officer, local books and a Swiss bank account. The SROs and FINMA both look through paper setups.
How are companies taxed?+
Combined corporate rates near 11.9% in Zug and 12-14% in other crypto-friendly cantons; crypto-fiat exchange is VAT-exempt as a financial service.
And founders personally?+
Private investors pay no capital gains tax on crypto - the cleanest rule in Europe - plus a modest cantonal wealth tax on year-end holdings. Professional-trader status changes the answer; we test it before you rely on it.
Why Switzerland rather than the EU or UAE?+
Brand and depth: 1,700+ Crypto Valley companies, banks that understand tokens, and the strongest non-EU flag with institutional counterparties. The EU adds a passport, the UAE adds 0% personal tax, which is why serious groups often hold two flags.
What licence do I need?+
Most models: SRO membership. Deposits → FinTech licence; venues → DLT facility.
How fast is the SRO route?+
8-12 weeks; fees CHF 4-6k; company from CHF 20k.
What changes in 2026?+
CARF data collection + the proposed Crypto Institution licence (2026-27).
Does the reform kill SROs?+
No - custody/trading migrate up; we build to convert.
Custody rules?+
Guidance 01/2026 - segregated, insolvency-proof, no omnibus commingling.
EU access?+
No MiCA passport - pair with a CASP from our Zug offices.
Substance?+
Resident director, compliance officer, Swiss books and bank.
Company taxes?+
~11.9% Zug; VAT-exempt exchange.
Founder taxes?+
Private gains tax-free; modest wealth tax; pro status changes it.
Why Switzerland?+
Brand, banks and depth - often paired with an EU or UAE flag.
Client notes
Google4.7★★★★★
Founders who wanted it done right.
Google4.7★★★★★
“As a software development crew at FewMoreTaps OÜ, we've had the pleasure of working with Prifinance on some key financial moves.First of all, navigating the world of corporate banking and finance can be a maze, but Prifinance made it feel like a walk in the park. They helped us set up a corporate bank account without the hassle of jumping on a plane or drowning in paperwork. Everything was done remotely, smoothly…”
Google
“I had their assistance in company registration and I would recommend them. They were answering all my clarification during the process and offering all their supportThank you Daniel and Irinia”
Google
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Google
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Google
“Opening an account with Prifinance in a Swiss bank was such an easy and quick process that I was shocked. It all started with the first call, where I received detailed guidance on the required documents and the entire procedure.One of the key highlights was their attention to detail. As someone who usually gets tangled up in paperwork, I was pleasantly surprised when they sent me all the documents and…”
Google
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Google
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Get a free legal opinion on your project - our legal team will analyze your case at no cost and provide a written legal opinion: which jurisdiction, licence scope, or route fits your business.Free legal opinion: which Swiss route fits your project and what it will cost.
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Prifinance is an independent law and advisory firm. We are not a regulator and are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of FINMA or any Swiss SRO or any other public authority. Authorisations are granted by, and obtained directly from, the competent authorities.