Lessons for Switzerland

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The international comparison suggests several lessons for Switzerland. The first is that regulatory clarity has become a common good. In 2018, Switzerland stood out because it offered clarity when most other jurisdictions did not. Now that most major financial centres offer a regime for crypto-assets in 2026, clarity alone no longer distinguishes Switzerland. The quality of the regime, the speed of the licensing process and the openness of the regulator to new business models now make the difference.

The second lesson is that access to markets matters. MiCA gives European providers a market of 450 million people, which Swiss providers must establish subsidiaries to reach. The Asian and Gulf centres offer access to their regions. Because Switzerland's domestic market is small, its value as a location depends on its ability to serve clients abroad. The third lesson is that the technology-neutral approach has limits. Stablecoins, decentralised finance and the custody of crypto-assets have required specific rules in every jurisdiction, as the Swiss reform of the Financial Institutions Act recognises. Its success will depend on whether it combines the principle of technology neutrality with rules that are adapted to the specific risks of crypto business models.

For general information only. This article does not constitute legal or tax advice, does not replace advice on an individual case and creates no lawyer-client relationship. It reflects the legal position as of September 2025.

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Dr Alexander Ressos, TEP

Rechtsanwalt/Attorney-at-Law

I am a Swiss attorney-at-law and also admitted as a solicitor in Hong Kong and in England & Wales, with almost 25 years of experience.

Together with my multilingual team, including Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Ukrainian and French native speakers, I advise companies and their owners from around the world on the full range of banking, corporate, commercial and tax law matters in Switzerland, including international tax planning, fiduciary services, and legal family office services including immigration & relocation or real estate investments. My practice has a particular focus on clients from growth and frontier markets in Greater China, Central Asia and the Caucasus, the rest of Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America, and I equally advise clients from Europe and North America. Through an affiliated Swiss trust company, we also take care of the incorporation and ongoing administration of their companies and other structures, including accounting, tax returns and corporate secretarial services, and I serve as a professional director where required. With the support of a network of first-class cooperation partners, I also implement solutions worldwide.

My approach is to act as a trusted advisor who works directly with decision-makers, on an equal footing: I start from what you want to achieve and shape every structure, contract and tax decision around your commercial goals and how it improves your after-tax return. As “lawyers who make it happen”, my team and I stay involved until your company is set up, your structure is in place and your transaction has closed, and we remain available for any follow-on work that may be required. You benefit from bespoke solutions and personal attention, and sound, friendly and practical advice. We are not the lowest-cost provider in the market, nor do we intend to be; our aim is to deliver well-founded, proper solutions and excellent value for money.

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