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- AMINA Bank secures a Type 1 license to offer institutional crypto services in Hong Kong.
- Crypto trading and custodial services will cover 13 major cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin.
- The bank expands globally with a MiCA license for its Austrian subsidiary in 2025.
AMINA Bank AG, based in Switzerland, has received regulatory approval to offer cryptocurrency trading and custodial services to institutional clients in Hong Kong. The approval makes AMINA the first international banking group to obtain the “Type 1 license uplift” from Hong Kong’s financial regulators. This achievement positions AMINA to serve the growing demand for regulated crypto services in one of Asia’s most tightly regulated markets.
Under the new license, AMINA will be able to offer trading and custodial services for 13 cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, USD Coin (USDC), and Tether (USDT). The bank will be run using its subsidiary in Hong Kong, AMINA HK. The offerings are mainly aimed at professional investors, family offices, and high-net-worth individuals. Who will get secure access to institutional-grade crypto assets.
The approval was important, as noted by Michael Benz, Head of AMINA Hong Kong and APAC. According to him, Hong Kong has positioned itself to be the most advanced market to institutionalize crypto uptake in the region. He further reported that the license will see AMINA cover the rising need of trusted access to crypto by professional investors.
AMINA Bank Tailored Crypto Services for Institutional Investors in Hong Kong
AMINA will target a substantial gap in the institutional crypto market in Hong Kong. The professional investors in the region have experienced difficulty accessing international-quality, institutional-grade crypto services because of the local onboarding capacity. The offer of AMINA will be used to satisfy this requirement and offer a secure and controlled means for professional customers to access cryptocurrencies.
Retail traders in Hong Kong are more restricted even though institutional access to crypto has been increased. Retail investors usually can only trade in tokens that are listed on the indices of major companies. However, AMINA will be customized to the needs of institutional customers. Which require a lot more advanced offerings compared to what can be provided to retail investors.
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The entry of AMINA into the Hong Kong market is timely when the process of trade in cryptocurrencies develops exponentially. In the first half of 2025, the bank shared a rise in trading volume of over 233% in the Hong Kong exchanges as opposed to that of the last year. This influx highlights the increased institutionalization of crypto in the area and the necessity of increased regulated services.
MiCA License Boosts Crypto Services Across the European Economic Area
In order to obtain the Type 1 license uplift, AMINA was required to comply with the tough conditions of the Securities and Futures Commission. The bank had adequate capital, robust risk management frameworks, and highly trained individuals who were suitable to manage operations.
Benz highlighted that the approval would enable AMINA to diversify its product range. Such as through the provision of private fund management, structured products, and tokenized real-world assets.
AMINA is also expanding worldwide and has succeeded in Europe in recent times. In November 2025, the bank received a MiCA license in the European Union. And enabled its subsidiary bank in Austria, AMINA (Austria) AG, to provide crypto services within the European Economic Area. This also establishes AMINA as an institutional crypto service leader worldwide.
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