In Switzerland, an SRO (Self-Regulatory Organisation) membership refers to the affiliation with a private organisation recognised by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) under the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA). While often referred to as a "Swiss crypto licence", "Swiss VASP License", "SRO licence", or "VQF membership", this affiliation is not a financial licence in the traditional sense. Instead, it grants access to the Swiss market for certain financial services that do not require direct FINMA authorisation.
Switzerland currently has 11 FINMA-recognised SROs, such as VQF, PolyReg and SO-FIT. Joining one of these is mandatory for professional financial intermediaries according to Art. 2 para. 3 and Art. 14 para. 1 AMLA if they are not directly supervised by FINMA.
Each SRO operates within the legal framework defined by Swiss law but sets its own compliance guidelines—especially regarding anti-money laundering (AML). Some SROs adopt FINMA’s AML Ordinance directly, while others issue their own rules that often closely mirror it. Member firms are required to comply with these regulations and are subject to regular AML audits.
Enables access to the Swiss financial market for certain regulated activities without requiring full FINMA licensing
Comparatively fast, straightforward membership process
Clear compliance expectations for fintech startups and established firms alike
Attractive regulatory framework for crypto service providers
Companies acting as financial intermediaries – such as those facilitating transactions or offering crypto custody – typically require at least an SRO affiliation, unless these activities are fully covered by a FINMA licence (e.g. banking license). This setup makes the SRO model particularly suitable for agile financial service models that want to operate under Swiss law with a clear compliance path.
Our team offers full support throughout the SRO affiliation process - from preparing and reviewing documentation to liaising with the SRO.
You can explore the list of recognised SROs and verify registered members directly via the FINMA website:
