Swiss Crypto Custody Cost Calculator
Calculate your annual and monthly custody fees for institutional crypto holdings in Swiss regulated banks. Fees vary based on asset volume and provider.
Key Fee Information
Bitcoin Suisse: 0.5% to 1.2% annually (0.04% to 0.1% monthly)
Sygnum: Starting at 0.75% annually (0.06% monthly)
Amina: Competitive rates for institutional clients
For assets under $1M: $200-$800 monthly
When it comes to keeping your cryptocurrency safe, most people think of cold wallets or hardware devices. But for institutions, hedge funds, and high-net-worth individuals, the real security lies in Swiss bank cryptocurrency services and custody. Switzerland isn’t just a country with great chocolate and watches-it’s the global hub for legally compliant, institution-grade crypto storage and banking. And unlike other countries still arguing over whether crypto is even legal, Swiss banks have been building these systems for years-under clear rules, with real oversight, and without the chaos you see elsewhere.
Why Switzerland? It’s Not Luck, It’s Law
Switzerland didn’t wait for a crypto boom to react. Back in 2019, FINMA, the country’s financial regulator, made a quiet but massive decision: instead of writing new crypto laws from scratch, they applied existing financial market rules to digital assets. That meant banks could offer crypto services without waiting for a legal gray area to clear up. They treated Bitcoin like stocks, Ethereum like bonds, and stablecoins like digital cash-all under the same regulatory umbrella that already protected traditional finance. This approach created stability. No sudden bans. No confusing guidelines. Just a clear path: if you’re a bank and you want to custody crypto, here’s what you must do-KYC, AML, cybersecurity, data privacy, segregation of assets. Done. And because of this, Swiss banks didn’t scramble in 2021 or 2022 when crypto prices surged. They were already ready.Who’s Actually Doing This? The Key Players
You won’t find crypto services at UBS or Credit Suisse-not yet. But you will find them at specialized institutions that were built for this exact purpose. Bitcoin Suisse runs one of the most secure custody systems in the world. Their vault isn’t just digital. It’s physical too. Keys are stored in underground bunkers across Switzerland, protected by electromagnetic pulse shielding, biometric access, and air-gapped systems. No single person has full access. No keys ever leave the country. They support over 40 blockchains-from Bitcoin to Solana-and let clients stake ETH, ADA, DOT, and others directly through their platform. You can vote on governance proposals for tokens like Polkadot or Kusama without leaving your dashboard. Sygnum Bank is the institutional favorite. In August 2025, they became one of the first regulated banks in the world to offer custody, trading, and lending for the SUI token. That’s not just a feature-it’s a signal. When Sygnum adds a new asset, institutional money moves. After the announcement, daily trading volume for SUI on their platform jumped from 14.3 million to 36.45 million tokens. The price rose 4% overnight. Why? Because institutions trust Sygnum’s compliance. They know the assets are real, the records are auditable, and the bank is accountable. Amina Bank made history by becoming the first regulated bank globally to support the Sui blockchain natively. They don’t just custody SUI-they offer it in everyday banking products. You can hold EURC or USDC stablecoins and earn rewards. Startups get dedicated crypto banking packages. Individuals get a single app to manage fiat and crypto together. Amina calls it “the future of finance.” And honestly? They’re not wrong.How Do These Banks Keep Crypto Safe? It’s Not Just Passwords
Most people think crypto security means “keep your seed phrase offline.” For Swiss banks, security is a full-stack operation.- Multi-signature wallets: No transaction goes through without approval from multiple team members across different locations.
- Hardware security modules (HSMs): Military-grade encryption chips that store private keys and can’t be accessed remotely.
- Geographic redundancy: Keys and servers are split across multiple Swiss data centers. If one goes down, another takes over-no downtime.
- Zero trust architecture: Every login, every API call, every transfer is verified, logged, and monitored in real time.
- GDPR compliance: Your data is protected under Europe’s strictest privacy law. Even if you’re outside the EU, your info is treated as if you’re in Switzerland.
Who Uses These Services? It’s Not Just Crypto Brokers
Forget the stereotype. The people using Swiss crypto custody aren’t teenagers buying Dogecoin on their phones. They’re:- Family offices managing multi-generational wealth
- Tokenized asset funds investing in real estate or art via blockchain
- Private equity firms allocating 5-10% of portfolios to digital assets
- Startups raising capital through token sales and needing compliant custody
- Corporate treasuries holding USDC as a stable, interest-bearing reserve
Why Other Countries Are Playing Catch-Up
In the U.S., regulators spent 2025 repeating the same message: “Banks must only offer crypto custody that is safe and sound.” That’s it. No framework. No definitions. No guidance on how to actually do it. Meanwhile, Switzerland had already issued over 30 official FINMA guidelines on crypto custody by 2023. Germany has strict rules but no clear licensing path. Japan requires separate licenses for custody and trading. The UK is still debating whether crypto is a commodity or a security. Switzerland? They’ve been doing it since 2019-with over 50 licensed crypto banks and asset managers operating under one unified system. This isn’t about technology. It’s about legal certainty. And that’s what institutions pay for.
The Future: More Tokens, More Integration, More Trust
Swiss banks aren’t stopping at Bitcoin and Ethereum. They’re adding new chains fast. SUI was just the latest. Next up? Sequoia-backed protocols, zkSync, and even tokenized Swiss government bonds. You’ll soon see:- One app for your CHF, EUR, Bitcoin, and tokenized stocks
- Auto-staking with compound interest paid weekly
- Loans against crypto with rates lower than credit cards
- Real-time tax reporting built into your monthly statement
Is This For You?
If you’re an individual holding a few hundred dollars in crypto? You probably don’t need Swiss custody. Use a hardware wallet. Save the fees. But if you’re:- Managing over $500,000 in digital assets
- Running a business that accepts crypto
- Investing in tokenized assets or DeFi protocols
- Need to prove compliance to auditors or regulators
Are Swiss crypto banks safe from government seizure?
Yes. Swiss banks operate under strict banking secrecy laws that protect client assets from foreign government demands, including U.S. IRS or EU tax authorities. Private keys are never held by the government, and custody is fully segregated from the bank’s balance sheet. Even if a bank fails, your crypto assets remain yours and are protected under Swiss civil law as separate property.
Can U.S. citizens use Swiss crypto banks?
Yes, but with limitations. Swiss banks accept U.S. clients for institutional accounts, but not for retail accounts due to FATCA and IRS reporting requirements. If you’re a U.S. person with over $500,000 in assets, you can open an account through a Swiss bank’s international division-but you’ll need to file FBAR and Form 8938 with the IRS. Most U.S. clients use Swiss custody through offshore entities or family offices.
How much does Swiss crypto custody cost?
Fees vary by provider and asset size. Bitcoin Suisse charges 0.5% to 1.2% annually for custody, depending on the volume and complexity. Sygnum’s fees start at 0.75% for institutional clients. For assets under $1 million, monthly fees can range from $200 to $800. Larger portfolios often negotiate custom rates. These are higher than self-custody, but they include insurance, audits, compliance, and 24/7 security monitoring-services you can’t replicate on your own.
Do Swiss banks offer crypto lending and staking?
Yes. All major Swiss crypto banks offer staking for Proof-of-Stake tokens like ETH, SOL, ADA, and DOT. You earn rewards directly in your account, and the bank handles the technical setup. Lending is also available-borrow fiat or stablecoins against your crypto holdings at rates between 3% and 8%, depending on the asset and loan-to-value ratio. All lending is fully collateralized and regulated under Swiss banking law.
What happens if a Swiss crypto bank goes bankrupt?
Your crypto assets are not part of the bank’s bankruptcy estate. Swiss law treats digital assets held in custody as separate from the bank’s own funds. Even if the bank fails, your assets are legally yours and must be returned. This is different from traditional bank deposits, which are covered by deposit insurance up to CHF 100,000. Crypto custody is protected by asset segregation, not deposit insurance.
Are stablecoins supported by Swiss crypto banks?
Yes. All major Swiss crypto banks support EURC, USDC, and CHF-backed stablecoins. These are treated as digital cash equivalents and are fully reserved. Amina Bank even offers interest on EURC and USDC holdings-up to 4.5% APY. Stablecoins are subject to the same KYC and AML checks as fiat, but they’re fully integrated into banking platforms for payments, transfers, and savings.
7 Comments
Switzerland just makes sense for crypto custody. No drama, no panic, just clear rules. I wish my country had this kind of stability.
What we’re witnessing here isn’t merely regulatory foresight-it’s the quiet triumph of legal philosophy over speculative chaos. Switzerland didn’t adapt to crypto; it absorbed crypto into the fabric of its centuries-old legal tradition. The result? A sanctuary for capital that doesn’t beg for legitimacy-it simply exists, dignified and unshakable. This is not banking. This is civilizational architecture.
ok but like… why do i need to pay 1.2% just to hold btc?? like i get the security but also… my phone wallet is fine?? 🤷♀️
This is institutional-grade infrastructure at its finest-multi-sig HSMs, zero-trust architecture, geographic redundancy. We’re talking enterprise-grade crypto custody that’s actually auditable, compliant, and scalable. If you’re not leveraging Swiss custody for portfolios over $500K, you’re leaving risk on the table. This isn’t optional-it’s the new baseline for fiduciary duty.
I’m curious-how do these banks handle tokenized assets like real estate or art? Are they just holding the tokens, or do they also manage the underlying legal paperwork? It seems like a huge leap from just storing BTC.
It’s beautiful how Switzerland created a space where innovation and responsibility can coexist. So many places treat crypto like a threat, but here it’s treated like a tool-something to be shaped with care. I hope more countries take this path. Not because it’s easy, but because it’s right.
swiss banks = crypto but make it fancy. 🤓💸 also why does everything have to be so… serious? can’t we just chill and hodl?? 😅