AMINA Secures First MiCA License via Austrian Subsidiary
AMINA Bank AG has become the first crypto banking group to receive authorization under Europe’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation, marking a defining step for both the Swiss institution and the broader digital asset ecosystem. Its Austrian subsidiary, AMINA (Austria) AG, has been granted a Crypto-Asset Service Provider (CASP) license by the Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA), allowing it to offer regulated crypto trading, custody, portfolio management, and staking services.
The achievement positions AMINA as one of the earliest fully compliant players under MiCAR, the EU’s landmark digital asset framework. This regulatory breakthrough sets the stage for the group’s expansion across more than 30 European markets, giving institutional clients a new gateway to secure, bank-grade crypto access. AMINA’s leadership noted that the license underpins its long-term goal of bridging traditional finance with the emerging crypto economy through a compliant, scalable infrastructure.
Franz Bergmueller, CEO of AMINA Bank, emphasized that the approval “demonstrates AMINA Group’s commitment to the highest regulatory standards and to meeting the growing global demand for trusted crypto services.” The MiCA license complements AMINA’s existing regulatory footprint in Switzerland, Hong Kong, and Abu Dhabi, creating one of the most geographically diverse compliance portfolios in the crypto-banking sector.
Takeaway
Austria as the Launchpad for AMINA’s EU Strategy
Austria was strategically chosen as AMINA’s European base due to its clear regulatory framework, investor protection standards, and ahead adoption of MiCAR principles. Through AMINA EU, the group plans to launch a platform offering professional investors — from family offices to corporates and financial institutions — a suite of regulated crypto-asset services that integrate Swiss governance with Austrian oversight.
“By combining Swiss banking DNA and deep expertise with Austrian regulatory strength, we are building the trusted infrastructure to bridge traditional finance and crypto,” said Eckehard Stolz, Managing Director of AMINA EU. The firm is already registered in thirteen additional EU markets, setting the foundation for seamless cross-border passporting under MiCA’s harmonized licensing regime.
The approval arrives as MiCAR begins to shape Europe’s post-2025 regulatory environment for digital assets. AMINA’s ahead compliance gives it a first-mover advantage in offering crypto services to professional investors under the EU’s single-market framework, while aligning with the bloc’s goals of transparency, consumer protection, and systemic integrity.
Takeaway
Global Regulatory Footprint and Strategic Implications
Founded in Zug in 2018, AMINA Bank has evolved into a regulated global crypto banking network. It holds licenses from FINMA in Switzerland, the FSRA in Abu Dhabi’s ADGM, and the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission. Its Hong Kong entity recently received approval to expand its Type 1 license to include digital asset dealing — underscoring the firm’s synchronized growth across multiple regulatory zones.
The group’s expansion in Europe through the FMA license strengthens its ability to offer clients cross-jurisdictional access while maintaining compliance with the world’s most stringent digital asset regulations. For institutional investors navigating fragmented regimes, AMINA’s integrated model provides a unified, regulated pathway across traditional and digital finance.
With MiCAR expected to become the global standard for crypto oversight, AMINA’s ahead adoption signals confidence in the EU’s regulatory trajectory. It also sets the group apart from unlicensed competitors, establishing AMINA as a trusted counterparty for institutional-grade custody, execution, and portfolio management in digital assets.
