Overview
Sygnum Bank is a pioneering institution in the digital asset banking sector, distinguished by its regulated status and global reach. Founded in 2018 with dual headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, and Singapore, Sygnum leverages the financial and technological prowess of these jurisdictions. Sygnum is fully regulated, holding a banking and securities dealer license from the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) and a Capital Markets Services (CMS) license from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). The bank has also received approvals in Luxembourg and the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). Sygnum's mission is to empower clients to invest in the digital asset economy with complete trust. The bank offers a comprehensive range of services, including:
- Custody and Wallets: Institutional-grade, segregated wallets with multi-layered security.
- Trading and Brokerage: Seamless fiat-digital asset gateway with live quotes and best-price execution.
- Tokenization: Digital securitization of assets on the blockchain.
- Asset Management: Various products catering to different investment strategies in the digital asset market.
- Payments and Settlement: Fast transitions between major fiat currencies and digital assets, including a Digital CHF token. Sygnum provides specialized products such as Crypto Sector Indices, a Digital Asset Multi-Manager Fund, and the Sygnum Platform Winners Index ETP. The bank emphasizes robust security measures, with its key management and custody solutions audited and certified according to ISAE 3000 and ISAE 3402 standards. With operations in Zurich, Singapore, Abu Dhabi, and Luxembourg, Sygnum serves clients internationally on a fully compliant basis. As a leader in integrating digital assets into the traditional financial system, Sygnum provides a trusted, secure, and compliant platform for institutional and private investors.
Leadership Team
Sygnum, the world's first regulated digital asset bank, boasts a robust and experienced leadership team that combines expertise in traditional finance, distributed ledger technology (DLT), and regulatory compliance. Group Executive Board:
- Mathias Imbach: Co-Founder and Group CEO, with a background in venture capital, private equity, and blockchain. He holds a PhD from the University of St. Gallen and a Master of Science from the London School of Economics (LSE).
- Thomas Eichenberger, Fabian Dori, Inna Schwartz, Martin Burgherr, Stephan Zimmermann, Simon Uhde, and Guido Hüppin: Members of the Group Executive Board. Founders:
- Luka Müller: Co-Founder and Board Chairman, based in Switzerland.
- Manuel Krieger: Co-Founder and Board Member, based in Switzerland.
- Mathias Imbach: Co-Founder and Group CEO.
- Gerald Goh: Co-Founder and CEO of Sygnum APAC, previously the Chief Strategy Officer with a background in alternative investments and private wealth management. Regional Leadership:
- Gerald Goh: CEO of Sygnum APAC, based in Singapore. He has been instrumental in driving Sygnum's presence in Asia. Other Key Roles:
- Pascal Gähweiler: Chief Risk Officer and Head of Finance, based in the Singapore Executive Board. This diverse leadership team is crucial for navigating both the traditional and emerging digital asset economies, ensuring Sygnum's continued growth and innovation in the digital asset banking sector.
History
Sygnum, a pioneering digital asset bank, has a notable history marked by several key milestones: Founding and Incorporation:
- Conceptualized in 2017, drawing on Swiss and Singaporean heritage
- Formally incorporated in May 2018 Banking License:
- Received a Swiss banking license from FINMA in August 2019, becoming the first digital asset bank Services and Expansion:
- Built a comprehensive range of regulated digital asset banking services, including:
- Crypto trading, custody, staking, lending, and asset token issuance
- Traditional banking services such as fiat-digital asset gateways, segregated accounts, 24/7 trading, and Lombard loans Growth and Milestones:
- By 2021:
- Multi-manager fund-of-funds product exceeded CHF 100 million in assets under management
- Combined assets for first two products reached over CHF 200 million
- Overall assets under administration surpassed CHF 2 billion
- Launched new products, including a DeFi+ Core investment strategy and other actively managed certificates Recent Developments:
- As of January 2025, achieved unicorn status with a $1 billion valuation following a new funding round Sygnum continues to focus on providing an institutional-grade experience for both professional and private qualified investors, aligning with its strategic mission of realizing 'Future Finance' where everyone can invest in digital assets with complete trust.
Products & Solutions
Sygnum, a regulated bank supervised by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA), offers a comprehensive range of products and solutions for institutional and professional investors, as well as other financial institutions. These offerings bridge the gap between traditional and digital asset economies, providing institutional-grade security, compliance, and innovative financial products.
Digital Asset Custody
Sygnum's institutional-grade multi-custody solution for digital assets includes:
- Secure off-balance sheet storage, mitigating intermediary risk
- 24/7 access to digital assets with seamless integration of crypto and fiat currencies
- Compliance with high regulatory standards (ISAE 3000, ISAE 3402, FIPS-140.2 level 3 HSMs)
- Enhanced security through Multi-Party Computation (MPC) technology
Trading
The 24/7 trading platform offers:
- Best-price execution across global OTC providers
- Graphical user interface (GUI) for standard transactions
- Trading Desk for complex transactions
- Scalable API integrations
Staking and Lending
- Staking services for various tokens (ETH, Tezos, ICP, ADA) within the custody solution
- Cost-effective credit lines using crypto assets as collateral
Tokenization
Sygnum provides comprehensive tokenization services, including:
- Corporate finance, DLT, legal, and regulatory expertise
- Guidance throughout the entire tokenization value chain
Asset Management
Sygnum Asset Management offers several investment products:
- Sygnum Digital Asset Multi-Manager Fund
- Sygnum Platform Winners Index (MOON) ETP
- Sygnum DeFi+ Core AMC
B2B Banking Services
Designed for various financial institutions, these services include:
- Modular 'plug-n-play' access to integrated banking services
- Dedicated Bank-to-Bank API integration
- Crypto compliance advisory and education services
- Automated tools
- Rapid deployment within 60 days
Crypto Compliance and RegTech
Sygnum provides extensive knowledge and tools in Crypto AML and RegTech, enabling financial intermediaries to offer crypto services in a regulated, compliant, and technology-efficient environment. Through this comprehensive suite of services, Sygnum positions itself as a leader in the digital asset banking space, offering innovative solutions that cater to the evolving needs of the financial industry.