A crypto-friendly bank is a licensed bank that is willing to work with customers whose money comes from, or goes to, digital assets. That covers a wide range. At one end are banks that simply do not block transfers to exchanges. At the other are banks that hold bitcoin in custody, trade it for clients and offer ordinary fiat accounts alongside.
The landscape in 2026 looks very different from three years ago. The collapse of two US banks that served the crypto industry in March 2023 left many companies without banking. Since then, US regulators have reversed several restrictions, the EU's MiCA regulation has become fully applicable, and more traditional banks have started to offer crypto services.
This guide explains the main types of crypto-friendly banks, gives verified examples, and sets out the questions worth asking before opening an account. It describes options in general terms and is not a recommendation of any institution.
Key takeaways
- "Crypto-friendly" can mean anything from tolerating exchange transfers to full crypto custody and trading inside a regulated bank.
- Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Gibraltar host some of the longest-running crypto banks, mostly with strict onboarding and a focus on professional or wealthier clients.
- US regulators changed course in 2025, allowing national banks to hold crypto in custody without prior supervisory approval and passing a federal stablecoin law.
- In the EU, MiCA's transition period ended by July 1, 2026 at the latest, so crypto services there now run under authorizations granted under MiCA.
- Deposit protection usually covers fiat balances only. Crypto held by a bank is protected by how it is held, not by deposit insurance.
What "crypto-friendly" can mean
| Level | What the bank does | Typical example |
|---|---|---|
| Tolerant | Allows transfers to and from regulated exchanges without closing the account | Many retail and digital banks |
| Brokered access | Lets customers buy and sell crypto through a partner or affiliate | Banks and fintech apps working with a licensed crypto provider |
| Crypto custody bank | Holds crypto for clients under a banking or trust licence | Swiss crypto banks, US national trust banks |
| Crypto-native bank | Built around digital assets, with fiat accounts, cards and crypto services in one place | Specialist banks in Switzerland and Gibraltar |
For most nomads and online entrepreneurs, the first level matters most: a bank that will not freeze an account because a payment came from an exchange. Our guide to bank accounts for digital nomads explains why accounts get reviewed, and our article on the payment stack for online entrepreneurs covers how people combine several providers.
The lesson of March 2023
Two US banks with large crypto client bases failed within days. On March 8, 2023, Silvergate announced plans to wind down and liquidate its bank. On March 12, 2023, New York regulators closed Signature Bank, which had also served many crypto businesses. Silvergate later repaid its depositors and Signature was taken into FDIC receivership, but crypto companies lost key payment rails overnight.
The takeaway many businesses drew was concentration risk. A single crypto-friendly bank is still a single point of failure. Holding fiat with more than one institution, in more than one jurisdiction, became common practice. Our article on banking jurisdictions and asset freeze risk discusses the wider question of where to hold money.
Switzerland and Liechtenstein: the early crypto banks
Switzerland was the first major financial center to license banks built around digital assets. On August 26, 2019, the Swiss regulator FINMA granted banking and securities dealer licences to two blockchain service providers, SEBA Crypto AG in Zug and Sygnum AG in Zurich. At the time, FINMA said both would serve institutional and professional clients.
The former SEBA now operates as AMINA Bank, which says it is authorized and regulated by FINMA. Its listed services include current accounts, crypto custody in hot and cold wallets, crypto and FX trading, staking and lending. AMINA also runs a branch in Abu Dhabi Global Market and a MiCA-regulated crypto service provider in Austria. Sygnum also offers crypto custody, trading and banking services.
In Liechtenstein, Bank Frick says it was the first bank in Europe to enable trading and secure custody of crypto assets in a regulated environment. Its listed services include staking and crypto trading access for institutional clients.
Onboarding at these banks tends to be thorough. Expect detailed source-of-wealth checks, minimum balances or fees that suit larger clients, and limits on which countries' residents they accept.
Gibraltar: a crypto-native retail option
Xapo Bank is a Gibraltar-licensed bank that combines USD accounts with bitcoin services. According to Xapo Bank's own disclosures, Xapo Bank Limited is regulated by the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission as a credit institution, while its crypto services are provided by a separate entity regulated as a DLT provider. USD balances are covered by the Gibraltar Deposit Guarantee Scheme up to the USD equivalent of £120,000, and crypto deposits are not covered by that scheme.
That split is typical of the sector. A bank group may hold your fiat under a banking licence and your crypto under a different licence, with different protections for each. It is worth checking which entity you are dealing with for each product.
United States: the 2025 reset
US policy toward banks and crypto shifted sharply in 2025.
- OCC, March 2025. In Interpretive Letter 1183, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency confirmed that national banks may offer crypto custody, certain stablecoin activities and participation in distributed ledger networks, and it removed the earlier requirement to obtain supervisory non-objection first.
- Federal Reserve, April 2025. The Fed withdrew its earlier guidance that expected state member banks to notify it before starting crypto activities, and joined the FDIC and OCC in withdrawing two 2023 joint statements on crypto risks.
- GENIUS Act, July 2025. The stablecoin law signed on July 18, 2025 created the first federal framework for payment stablecoins, with full reserve backing and monthly disclosure of reserves, according to the White House fact sheet.
Specialist institutions predate the reset. The OCC conditionally approved Anchorage Digital Bank as a national trust bank in January 2021. Trust banks of this type focus on custody for institutions rather than everyday accounts. For individuals, the practical change is that more mainstream US banks and brokers can now offer crypto services, though availability for non-residents and Americans living abroad varies.
European Union: banking under MiCA
The EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation became fully applicable on December 30, 2024. According to ESMA, firms already operating under national law could continue during a transition period that ended on July 1, 2026 at the latest, or earlier where their authorization was granted or refused. MiCA also lets authorized credit institutions provide crypto-asset services after notifying their regulator, so a bank does not need a separate crypto licence to offer them.
For customers, the result is a clearer picture. A provider offering crypto services in the EU today generally needs MiCA authorization or, for banks, the notification route. Checking the provider's status on the relevant national or ESMA register is a basic step.
What to check before opening an account
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Which entity holds my money, and under which licence? | Fiat and crypto may sit with different entities and regulators |
| What deposit protection applies, and to what? | Schemes usually cover fiat deposits only, up to a limit |
| How is crypto held? | Segregated custody protects clients differently from pooled balances |
| Which residents and citizens are accepted? | Many banks restrict certain countries, and US persons face extra paperwork under FATCA |
| What proof of address and tax residence is needed? | Banks report account data to your declared tax residence under CRS |
| What source-of-funds evidence is expected? | Crypto gains often need exchange records, wallet histories and tax filings |
| Can I withdraw to my own wallet? | Transfers to self-hosted wallets may require address verification under the EU travel rule |
| What are the fees and minimums? | Specialist banks often price for larger clients |
Proof of tax residence comes up again and again. Banks ask for it to meet reporting duties under the Common Reporting Standard and, for crypto platforms, under the OECD's CARF and the EU's DAC8. A tax residency certificate from your country of residence is one document some banks accept. Our article on how a Honduras tax residency certificate was used to open crypto banking services describes one member's experience, though every bank sets its own criteria.
Banks, neobanks and self-custody together
Many people use more than one layer: a traditional bank for salary or business income, a crypto-capable bank or broker for conversions, and self-custody for long-term holdings. Each layer has a different risk. A bank can close an account. An exchange or crypto app can fail or restrict users in a country. Self-custody removes those risks but puts security entirely on the holder, as our guide to bitcoin self-custody for nomads explains.
Crypto cards and e-money apps are a separate category. Many are not banks at all, and balances held with them may not benefit from deposit protection. The provider's licence type, not its marketing, determines what protection applies.
Frequently asked questions
Which banks are crypto-friendly in 2026?
Examples include specialist banks such as AMINA Bank and Sygnum in Switzerland, Bank Frick in Liechtenstein and Xapo Bank in Gibraltar, plus a growing number of US and EU banks that added crypto services after the 2025 US policy changes and MiCA. Whether any of them accepts a particular customer depends on residence, citizenship, the source of funds and the bank's own policy.
Is crypto held at a bank covered by deposit insurance?
Generally no. Deposit guarantee schemes cover fiat deposits up to set limits. Crypto held in custody is protected, if at all, by being segregated from the bank's own assets, which matters if the bank fails.
Why do banks close accounts that receive crypto?
Banks must understand where money comes from. Large or frequent transfers from exchanges, without clear documentation, can trigger reviews and closures. Keeping exchange statements, wallet histories and tax filings ready makes these reviews easier.
Can non-residents open an account at a crypto-friendly bank?
Some specialist banks accept international clients, often with higher minimums and detailed checks. Many restrict residents of certain countries. US citizens face extra paperwork because of FATCA reporting.
Important: This article is general information, not tax, legal or financial advice. Rules change often and depend on your personal circumstances. Speak with a qualified professional in each relevant country before you act.