UBS Plans to Enable Crypto Access for Clients: CEO

Key Highlights

• UBS CEO Sergio Ermotti stated that the bank is exploring direct cryptocurrency access for its individual clients
• This development comes after positive regulatory developments like the U.S. GENIUS Act and approvals from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC)

On February 4, UBS Group’s CEO, Sergio Ermotti, revealed the bank’s plan to explore crypto, saying that the bank is exploring ways to allow its individual clients to access crypto.

UBS Group Prepares to Embrace the Crypto Sector with “Fast Follower” Strategy for Asset Tokenization

This announcement came during a recent earnings call, which shows that the Swiss banking giant is interested in the integration of the crypto market, which currently holds $2.54 trillion in market capitalization, according to CoinMarketCap.

Apart from this, Sergio Ermotti mentioned that the financial group is taking an approach of “fast follower” to adopt asset tokenization, which is currently a trend. This means that the bank is planning to let others adopt blockchain technology while building its own robust systems. 

“We are building out the core infrastructure and exploring targeted offerings from crypto access for individual clients to tokenized deposit solutions for corporates,” Sergio Ermotti said.

The initial launch is expected to be limited and only available for wealthy clients, which potentially includes direct trading of assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum alongside related derivatives. 

Ermotti stated that this integration is part of the evolution in the financial world, where innovations like blockchain technology are rapidly penetrating deep into the banking sector. He affirmed that banks must adapt by relying on strong capital, quality products, and trusted client advice. 

The expansion plan at UBS is planned for the next 3 to 5 years, which mainly focuses on developing infrastructure for tokenized assets and enterprise solutions instead of speculative trading. This development is a continuation of its previous projects, such as issuing tokenized warrants on the Ethereum blockchain and working with entities like Chainlink and Swift. 

Bank Prepares to Embrace Crypto and Blockchain Sector with New Regulatory Developments

This cautious approach by UBS shows a mature view across the global banking industry, accelerated by clearer regulations. Following reforms like the 2025 GENIUS Act in the United States, regulators have opened doors for banks. 

In 2026, the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) approved national banks to engage in specific crypto activities, including holding digital assets in custody and facilitating stablecoin transactions. 

The OCC has also granted conditional trust bank charters to crypto-native firms such as Fidelity Digital Assets and Paxos, further integrating digital assets into the financial mainstream. 

More than 60% of major U.S. banks are currently offering or developing Bitcoin-related services. JPMorgan now accepts certain cryptocurrencies as loan collateral, while SoFi allows direct digital asset trading. Institutions, including Morgan Stanley, PNC, and Citi, are creating similar products through partnerships with crypto exchanges. 

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