Headline: Banca Sella wins Bank of Italy sign-off under MiCA — custody and transfer services for institutions due by 2026 Banca Sella has taken a major step into regulated crypto services after securing authorization from the Bank of Italy under Europe’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regime. The approval — obtained via MiCA’s bank notification route — lets the lender offer custody, receipt and transfer services for digital assets, with a targeted rollout aimed at corporate and institutional clients rather than broad retail trading. What the approval covers - Custody: secure storage and management of clients’ crypto holdings. - Receipt and transfer: the ability to move digital assets between approved accounts and settle transactions on behalf of clients. Notably, Banca Sella has not announced plans to enable direct retail buy/sell trading or operate an exchange. The bank’s initial model is intentionally narrow and infrastructure-focused, designed to support organizations that need regulated custody and settlement capabilities rather than casual traders. Timing and target market Banca Sella expects to begin serving selected corporate and institutional clients by the end of 2026. By prioritizing businesses and financial firms, the bank aims to limit operational risk in the launch phase while addressing the specific compliance and custody needs of institutions that plan to hold digital assets at scale. Regulatory significance Completing the Bank of Italy notification under MiCA gives Banca Sella stronger legal certainty and places its services inside Europe’s harmonized crypto framework — an advantage banks enjoy compared with many non-bank crypto players. Andrea Tessera, Managing Director of Digital Banking at Banca Sella, described the authorization as a “major step” aligning the bank with Europe’s move toward new digital financial models. Strategic context Banca Sella isn’t new to digital finance. It joined the Bank of Italy’s Fintech Milano Hub pilot in 2022 and is a founding member of Qivalis, a 37-bank consortium working on a euro-based stablecoin. Those activities suggest the bank’s custody offering is part of a broader strategy to build token and settlement infrastructure across regulated markets. Wider market trend The move echoes a broader pattern among European banks: cautious, regulated entries into crypto focused on custody, settlement and token infrastructure rather than speculative trading products. That approach leverages banks’ traditional strengths while minimizing exposure to trading volatility. Why it matters If Banca Sella successfully launches by 2026, it could become one of Italy’s early banking examples under MiCA and provide a template for other lenders planning regulated crypto services. The real test will come when the bank opens services to clients and demonstrates the operational model in practice.
Banca Sella Secures Bank of Italy MiCA Approval for Institutional Crypto Custody by 2026
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Summary
Banca Sella has secured Bank of Italy approval under MiCA to provide custody, receipt, and transfer services for digital assets. The bank will roll out these services for institutional clients by 2026, focusing on regulated infrastructure. The move aligns with crypto trends in Europe, where banks are increasingly entering the crypto market through custody and settlement. The approval supports Banca Sella’s position in the evolving crypto market and underlines the growing institutional interest in digital assets.
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