Bison Bank has become the first bank in Portugal to operate directly as a Crypto-Asset Service Provider (CASP) under the European MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets) regulation, according to a press release. The move consolidates the bank's position at the forefront of financial innovation by integrating digital asset services into its core banking operations.
The CASP activity will be undertaken through the merger of its fully owned subsidiary, Bison Digital Assets (BDA), which was previously approved by the Bank of Portugal. This follows a journey that began in 2022 when BDA became the first bank-owned Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) in the country. Bison Bank joins a limited group of 30 EU banking institutions offering crypto-asset services under the new legal framework.
"We were pioneers three years ago when we realized the future of banking would involve integrating digital assets. Now, with a clear and solid European framework like MiCA, we are bringing this area into the heart of the bank," said António Henriques, CEO of Bison Bank. "The CASP license and the merger realize our vision for the bank of the future: a single, regulated entity with the robustness of a bank and the agility of the crypto world."
The integration of BDA, which in 2025 served approximately 275 clients and handled traded volume of €165 million, positions the bank to accelerate its on-chain strategy. Under the new CASP structure, institutional clients gain simplified access to custody, exchange, and advisory services for crypto-assets within a bank-grade compliance and risk management framework. The bank also plans to support new products, including its recently launched EUB and USB E-money tokens (stablecoins), and future real-world asset (RWA) tokenization solutions.
Bison Bank's financial strength underpins this strategy. The bank closed 2025 with recurring net profit of €5 million, doubling the previous year, and a CET1 capital ratio of 38.5%, among the highest in European banking. Its leadership in digital assets was recognized with the "Portugal's Best for Digital Assets" distinction at the Euromoney Global Private Banking Awards 2026.
Bison Bank, S.A. is a Portuguese bank providing Private Banking, Depositary Bank, Corporate Advisory, and Digital Assets services to individual and institutional clients, connecting European and global markets. Bison Digital Assets S.A. is the first Virtual Asset Service Provider licensed by the Bank of Portugal and fully owned by a Portuguese bank, offering digital asset custody and exchange services.
