Amina becomes the first regulated bank on the EU Blockchain Securities Platform.
Amina, a Swiss-run crypto bank, has joined a blockchain-based settlement platform for tokenized securities operating under the EU's DLT pilot regime, another step towards integrating digital asset infrastructure with traditional capital markets.
The Zug, Switzerland-based company announced Monday that it is a listing sponsor on the EU-regulated platform 21X, making Amina the platform's first fully regulated banking participant.
Amina said the move will allow Tokeny to partner with a Luxembourg company to support companies issuing tokenized securities on 21X and provide technology to create and manage tokenized financial assets.
The partnership aims to address a key barrier to institutional acceptance by connecting regulated banks to the issuance and trading of tokenized assets.
21X received an infrastructure license in the EU's DLT pilot system in December 2024, allowing it to operate a regulated market for blockchain-based securities in a regulated regulatory environment.
“A lack of interoperability between platforms of tokenized assets” was mentioned by Baker McKenzie of the European Financial Services Practice in June as a major obstacle to the adoption of tokenization among financial institutions. “Success can only be achieved when multiple market players communicate on common or interconnected platforms,” Zürich partner Yves Mauchel wrote on the firm's blog.
In the year Introduced in 2023, the DLT framework will allow market operators to test blockchain-based trading and financial instruments in a regulatory sandbox. The program is designed to help regulators assess how the technology fits into the existing market infrastructure.
Although it was adopted early on, the regime has faced scrutiny from industry players who warn that the current restrictions could hamper the growth of European onchain markets and prevent them from competing with other jurisdictions. It is unclear whether participation from regulated banks like Amina will help accelerate adoption.
RELATED: Crypto Exchanges Gain As Tokenized Commodity Market Hits $7.7B
Strong growth in proven real-world assets
The development comes as financial institutions continue to invest in blockchain infrastructure for decentralized assets. In the United States, institutions including BNY, Nasdaq and S&P Global have recently supported the expansion of the Canton network, while Europe is testing regulated blockchain trading venues such as 21X under the EU's DLT pilot regime.
In February, eight EU-regulated digital assets companies urged policymakers to speed up digital asset legislation, warning that the bloc risks falling behind the United States and other financial markets.
Certainly, positive developments are happening. In September, crypto exchange Kraken launched tokenized securities trading for European users through its xStocks platform, which offers blockchain-based versions of US-listed equities.
Two months later, tokenization platform Ondo received regulatory approval in Liechtenstein to offer trading in tokenized equities to European investors.
Related: Crypto Biz: Plug Kraken into Fed
