Crypto for Expats: Why Switzerland—and Ticino—Are Leading the Way

Switzerland has earned its reputation as one of the most stable and sophisticated financial jurisdictions in the world. But over the past few years, it's also quietly become a global leader in crypto. Not in hype—but in real infrastructure, clear rules, and serious institutions. If you're holding meaningful amounts of digital assets and want to manage them securely and legally, Switzerland—especially Ticino—deserves your attention.

Why Switzerland? Because Here, the Rules Make Sense

Most countries are still catching up. They’re either over-regulating or avoiding the topic altogether. Switzerland did the opposite. The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) started defining digital assets back in 2018—classifying them clearly as payment tokens, utility tokens, or asset tokens. That early regulatory clarity opened the door for banks, asset managers, law firms and insurers to build a fully regulated crypto ecosystem.

Today, crypto isn't treated like a novelty or a problem to be contained. It’s recognized as a legitimate part of modern finance, and it's handled accordingly—with standards, security, and long-term thinking.

Buying Crypto in Switzerland: It’s Not Just About Exchanges

One of the most underappreciated things about Switzerland is how easy—and safe—it is to get exposure to digital assets without ever touching a retail exchange.

Yes, you can still use your own wallets or international platforms if you want. But more and more people are choosing to work with regulated Swiss banks that offer crypto services directly. One example is Sygnum, the first digital asset bank with a Swiss banking license. Another is AMINA Bank (formerly SEBA), which integrates crypto custody, trading, and DeFi access into a full-service banking experience.

The point is: in Switzerland, you can hold your crypto at the same institution where you keep your cash, your bonds, or your equity portfolio. It's seamless, secure, and compliant.

And beyond the banks, you now have licensed wealth managers—like CFBC in Lugano—who are able to include crypto in your broader investment mandate. They can manage your exposure to Bitcoin, Ethereum, or even selected altcoins, directly from your name, under Swiss regulation. No guessing. No workarounds. Just serious, professional management of digital assets as part of a properly structured portfolio.

From Cold Wallets to Institutional Structures

If you've been in the crypto space for a while, chances are you’ve used a hardware wallet or kept coins on a decentralized exchange. That’s fine for personal use. But once your holdings start reaching six or seven figures—or if you’re thinking about estate planning, asset protection, or working with family members—you need a different approach.

Switzerland offers exactly that.

You can hold your crypto through institutional custody solutions with insured cold storage, multi-signature security, and proper access controls. But more importantly, you can wrap your digital assets inside legal and tax-efficient structures:

• through regulated asset managers

• using insurance policies based in Liechtenstein or Barbados

• or even through trusts and holding companies that integrate crypto into long-term wealth and succession planning.

This is the kind of work that CFBC does every day—bridging the gap between traditional finance and digital assets for clients who need more than just a Ledger wallet.

Plan ₿: Why Ticino Is Leading the Way

Lugano isn’t just crypto-friendly—it’s becoming a global hub for innovation in this space.

The city is behind the Plan ₿ initiative, a public-private partnership that promotes real-world crypto adoption. This includes the launch of the LVGA stablecoin, usable for municipal services and payments, as well as educational efforts, merchant adoption, and infrastructure investments. Every year, the Plan ₿ Forum brings together top thinkers, investors, institutions and regulators to discuss what’s next in Bitcoin, blockchain and decentralized finance.

This isn’t marketing fluff. It’s a real ecosystem, backed by serious players and embraced by the local government.

And around this ecosystem, a community of professionals has grown: lawyers in Lugano with international reputations for their crypto expertise, including tokenization, on-chain legal engineering, and multi-jurisdictional structures. If you’re looking to do things right—clean, compliant, and built to last—this is the place.

Switzerland as a Strategic Plan B

Let’s be honest: the world has changed. Political risks, banking restrictions, capital controls, and unstable regulation are all part of the landscape now. Having a “Plan B” is no longer an eccentric idea—it’s just good planning.

Switzerland offers that Plan B:

• a legally robust base

• a hard currency

• neutral politics

• and a financial system that understands both wealth protection and innovation

Whether you're looking to become a resident, set up a family structure, or simply anchor part of your portfolio in a jurisdiction that won’t change the rules overnight—Ticino makes sense.

Some clients move here permanently. Others structure their wealth here while continuing to live elsewhere. Both options are valid. What matters is the clarity and security you get in return.

Getting Started

If you’re holding crypto and you’re thinking about the next step—maybe you want more protection, more structure, or just more options—it all starts with relationships.

You’ll want a bank that can handle crypto. An asset manager who actually knows what DeFi means and isn’t just reading headlines. Maybe a lawyer who can help design a cross-border setup that doesn’t get you into trouble five years from now.

That’s where we come in.

Let’s talk about your crypto strategy.

Whether you want to hold Bitcoin through a regulated Swiss structure, explore Plan ₿ in Lugano, or just stop worrying about the next crypto winter, we can help you find the right setup.

📧 Email us at info@knotted.ch

📱 Or WhatsApp us at +41 76 771 30 22