Swiss cantonal bank BancaStato has launched regulated crypto trading through an integration with digital asset bank Sygnum and banking software provider Avaloq.
The service allows BancaStato clients to buy, hold, and sell Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and Solana directly through the bank’s existing web and mobile banking applications, according to an announcement Thursday.
Clients can place market orders based on either the quantity of crypto they want to purchase or its value in US dollars. Transactions are executed through Sygnum’s business banking API within BancaStato’s Avaloq infrastructure.
The integration does not require a separate order management system, which Sygnum said reduces operating costs and complexity while allowing trading features to be adjusted to support the bank’s risk management requirements.
BancaStato is the first bank using Avaloq’s software as a service environment to let clients trade crypto directly through Sygnum’s API, the companies said. The bank joins more than 25 banks and international financial institutions using Sygnum’s business banking platform.
Client assets will be stored through Sygnum’s custody infrastructure, which uses hardware and software controls, governance procedures, and external audits. The assets are held off BancaStato’s balance sheet, providing additional protection if the bank enters bankruptcy proceedings.
Founded in 1915, BancaStato serves customers across the Swiss canton of Ticino. The integration allows clients to view and manage their traditional investments and digital assets through the same banking platform.
The launch follows Sygnum Europe’s receipt of a crypto asset service provider license in Liechtenstein on June 30 under the European Union’s Markets in Crypto Assets framework. The authorization allows Sygnum to provide regulated digital asset infrastructure to banks across the European Union.