The spread of cryptocurrencies in Switzerland has steadily grown in recent
years, but adoption remains moderate compared to international
standards. According to a recent study, about 11
percent of the Swiss population invest in cryptocurrencies. The interest
primarily arises from curiosity and small investment amounts, less from
the desire for portfolio diversification or high returns. Only about
1 to 2 percent of the population already attribute a
high significance to cryptocurrencies.
Awareness is primarily held by large cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin (87 percent
awareness), Ethereum (35 percent) and Dogecoin (21 percent). Traders
and banks are increasingly integrating crypto products into their offerings, with
neo-brokers and crypto exchanges revitalizing the market with new products. Despite
this positive development, trading and investments among the broad
population segment are still not strongly pronounced, which indicates a rather
cautious attitude.
Switzerland is considered a global pioneer in regulatory handling of
cryptocurrencies. For example, in 2019, Sygnum and SEBA were the
first crypto banks in the world approved by FINMA. The
DLT law of 2021 also made Switzerland the first country with a
comprehensive legal framework for blockchain assets. This
regulatory framework enables innovation and creates
legal certainty, which is important for financial institutions and companies.
The financial center and crypto industry in Switzerland are characterized by a strong
focus on the so-called 'Crypto Valley' around Zug, as well as clusters in
Zurich and Liechtenstein. In these regions, over 60
percent of the crypto companies in Switzerland are concentrated, and the number of providers
increased by 13 percent within a year to over 400 companies.
Moreover, it shows that professional investors such as banks and family
offices are increasingly serving the crypto segment.
Nevertheless, experts warn that Switzerland has lost momentum compared to international standards.
Other countries, especially the USA and Asian states,
are investing heavily and advancing blockchain technology more rapidly.
Switzerland must take further measures to secure its status as
a leading blockchain center and to promote greater public acceptance
of crypto.
On an economic level, the importance of crypto assets is growing in
Switzerland and Liechtenstein. The total value of managed
crypto assets reached around 15 billion CHF by 2025, supported
by significantly higher acceptance and market activity. Bitcoin and
other large coins have established themselves as an independent asset class.
In summary, it can be said: Cryptocurrencies have arrived in Switzerland and have gained importance among both individuals and institutions.
Switzerland has an excellent starting position due to progressive
regulation and a strong ecosystem. However, the broad acceptance of the
population is still expandable to fully exploit the potential – both
economically and technologically. The year 2025
is considered a key year in which it will be shown whether Switzerland can maintain its
pioneering role in the crypto and blockchain sector.
