AMINA Bank has become the first international banking group to offer complete crypto trading and custody services in Hong Kong, following regulatory approval from the city’s financial watchdog.
Key Takeaways
- AMINA (Hong Kong) Limited received a Type 1 license uplift from Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), allowing it to offer crypto trading and asset safeguarding services to professional investors.
- The services include 24/7 crypto spot trading, SFC-compliant custody, and support for deposits and withdrawals through whitelisted addresses.
- AMINA’s expansion addresses a gap in Hong Kong’s crypto market, where institutional-grade services from international banks were previously limited.
- This move supports Hong Kong’s push to become a global hub for regulated digital asset services.
What Happened?
Swiss-regulated AMINA Bank AG, through its Hong Kong subsidiary AMINA (Hong Kong) Limited, secured a regulatory upgrade from the SFC, enabling it to launch a comprehensive suite of crypto trading and custody services. This makes AMINA the first international bank to receive such permission in the region, providing exclusive access to institutional clients.
📢 Crypto trading and custody – now available at AMINA Hong Kong!
— AMINA Bank (@AMINABankGlobal) November 18, 2025
Today, AMINA becomes the first international banking group to launch comprehensive crypto trading and custody services in Hong Kong.
What this means for institutions, corporates, family offices, and UHNWI… pic.twitter.com/74EtwDV9Bs
AMINA’s Hong Kong Milestone
AMINA’s newly acquired SFC Type 1 license uplift is a significant regulatory achievement. It empowers the bank to operate within Hong Kong’s highly regulated financial environment and extend its services to professional investors, including corporations, institutions, and high-net-worth individuals.
Services now offered by AMINA HK include:
- 24/7 crypto spot trading with institutional-grade execution.
- Custody of crypto assets aligned with SFC’s compliance standards.
- Crypto deposits and withdrawals from whitelisted addresses.
- Support for an initial list of 13 cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), USDC, USDT, and major DeFi tokens.
This expansion allows clients to interact with AMINA through multiple channels such as web platforms, mobile apps, and personal relationship managers.
Bridging a Market Gap
AMINA’s move addresses a longstanding void in Hong Kong’s digital asset ecosystem. While the city has developed regulatory frameworks for crypto, professional investors and family offices often lacked access to international, bank-grade crypto services with local onboarding.
Michael Benz, Head of AMINA for Hong Kong and APAC, said:
The company has seen a 233% increase in trading volume on Hong Kong exchanges during the first half of 2025, compared to the same period last year, reflecting strong institutional interest.
A Platform for Expansion
With the license uplift, AMINA now plans to expand its digital asset offerings. The roadmap includes:
- Private fund management
- Structured crypto products
- Derivatives
- Tokenized real-world assets
These services will all be delivered within a fully regulated framework, leveraging AMINA’s Swiss banking rigor and Hong Kong’s maturing digital asset ecosystem.
Hong Kong’s Growing Role in Crypto
The approval comes as Hong Kong positions itself as a global hub for digital assets. In 2025, the city introduced stablecoin regulations and approved Asia’s first Solana exchange-traded fund, aiming to attract more institutional players.
While AMINA is the first international bank to gain the license uplift, the market also includes established local firms such as HashKey and Tiger Brokers. AMINA’s entry marks a new phase in the evolution of regulated crypto services in Hong Kong.
CoinLaw’s Takeaway
In my experience, the biggest hurdles for institutional investors getting into crypto are trust and regulation. AMINA Bank clearing this regulatory milestone in Hong Kong sends a strong message. It’s not just about having crypto access, it’s about having that access through a trusted, regulated channel. I found the combination of Swiss banking standards with Hong Kong’s progressive yet strict rules to be a powerful signal that crypto is entering its institutional era. For any serious player watching Asia, this is one of those developments you can’t afford to ignore.
