Swiss cantonal bank BancaStato has launched regulated cryptocurrency trading directly within its banking applications, powered by Sygnum's digital asset infrastructure and the Avaloq banking platform. The new service enables customers to buy, hold, and sell Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and Solana without leaving the bank's existing web and mobile channels, broadening BancaStato's digital investment portfolio while keeping all crypto activity inside a fully regulated banking environment.

Switzerland's cantonal banks are partially state-guaranteed institutions backed by their respective cantonal governments, making BancaStato's adoption of crypto trading a signal of how digital asset services are reaching even the most traditionally conservative segments of Swiss banking.

Crypto Trading Embedded Into Existing Banking Services

BancaStato completed the integration by connecting Sygnum's business-to-business API to its Avaloq core banking platform. As a result, customers can trade cryptocurrencies through the same applications they already use for everyday banking and investment management. By embedding digital asset functionality directly into its existing digital channels, the bank eliminated the need for a separate trading interface.

At launch, the service supports Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and Solana. Customers can submit market orders denominated in either cryptocurrency quantities or equivalent U.S. dollar amounts. Portfolio management remains within the bank's familiar digital banking interface.

Sygnum executes every transaction through its regulated infrastructure and supplies institutional-grade custody. Sygnum itself holds a FINMA-regulated banking license, placing its B2B infrastructure within one of the world's most established digital asset regulatory frameworks. That custody framework integrates hardware-level protection, software controls, governance procedures, and external audits. Customer digital assets are held off BancaStato's balance sheet in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements.

BancaStato Joins Sygnum's Growing Network of Partner Banks

The deployment places BancaStato among more than 25 financial institutions leveraging Sygnum's B2B banking platform. Notably, BancaStato is the first institution operating on Avaloq's software-as-a-service environment to enable Sygnum-powered crypto trading through direct API integration. This architecture removes the need for a separate order management system, thereby reducing operational complexity.

The streamlined infrastructure allows the bank to adjust trading functionality while continuing to rely on its established banking systems. The design also supports risk management without adding extra operational layers. Customers can manage both traditional investments and digital assets through a single banking relationship rather than across disparate platforms.

Founded in 1915, BancaStato serves customers throughout the Canton of Ticino in southern Switzerland. The bank has been steadily expanding its investment services while preserving its regulated banking structure. The crypto integration introduces digital assets without altering the customer experience across its online channels.

Broader Context: Sygnum's Expanding European Footprint

Sygnum has been continuously building out regulated digital asset infrastructure for financial institutions across Switzerland and Europe. Switzerland's Distributed Ledger Technology framework, which came into effect in February 2021, has provided the legal certainty that enables such regulated integrations to proceed within established banking structures. Its partner network already provides digital asset access to more than one-third of Switzerland's population through participating banks. Previous integrations include PostFinance, Zuger Kantonalbank, Bordier & Cie, and SocGen FORGE.

Demand from banking customers for integrated crypto services alongside conventional financial products has been demonstrated through earlier deployments. PostFinance, for example, subsequently expanded its Sygnum-powered offering by adding Ethereum staking through its existing banking channels.

The BancaStato rollout follows another significant milestone for Sygnum's European operations. On June 30, 2026, Sygnum Europe received a Crypto-Asset Service Provider (CASP) license under the European Union's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA), granted through Liechtenstein's Financial Market Authority. MiCA establishes a harmonized regulatory framework across the EU's 27 member states, replacing a patchwork of national approaches and giving regulated institutions a clearer path to offering digital asset services cross-border. The authorization reinforces regulated digital asset services for banks throughout the European Union and supports continued expansion through established banking infrastructure.