Swiss crypto bank AMINA Bank AG has received regulatory approval in Hong Kong to provide crypto trading and custody services to institutional clients, becoming the first international bank to secure such authorization in the region.
The bank said the “Type 1 license uplift” from the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission will enable it to fill a gap in the institutional crypto market, where access to bank-grade crypto services has been limited due to stringent regulatory standards.
Under the new license, AMINA’s Hong Kong subsidiary can offer 13 cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ether, USDC, Tether, and major decentralized finance (DeFi) tokens.
AMINA also reported a 233% surge in trading volume on Hong Kong crypto exchanges in the first half of 2025 compared with the same period last year, signaling growing adoption of digital assets among both retail and institutional investors.
Michael Benz, head of AMINA Hong Kong, said the new license would allow the firm to expand into private fund management, structured products, derivatives, and tokenized real-world assets, broadening its crypto offerings for clients.
Hong Kong courts international crypto firms
Hong Kong has been positioning itself as a global crypto hub, and AMINA’s approval could encourage other foreign firms to enter the market. While AMINA claims to be the first international company to receive a Type 1 license upgrade, it will be competing with local players such as Tiger Brokers and HashKey.
Regulatory developments
Hong Kong has taken a cautious approach to crypto. In August, it introduced new stablecoin rules, prompting major banks like HSBC and ICBC to explore licensing. The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) also approved the region’s first Solana exchange-traded fund in late October, ahead of the US.
The city also tightened rules around self-custodied crypto in August, focusing primarily on reducing cybersecurity risks rather than restricting user freedom.
