Amina Bank, a crypto lender regulated by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority ( Finma ), has appointed Michael Benz as head of Hong Kong and Asia-Pacific. The firm is expanding into the region as more private bankers turn to digital assets to meet accelerating institutional demand.

Benz has three decades of senior leadership experience in the financial industry, including as global head of private banking at Standard Chartered, chief executive officer of Merrill Lynch Wealth Management Asia, and head of products and services at UBS Wealth Management APAC. He reports directly to CEO Franz Bergmueller.

His appointment follows a record-breaking year for Amina Bank, which achieved 69% revenue growth to US$40.4 million in 2024, making it Switzerland’s fastest-growing crypto bank.

According to Amina, Hong Kong's regulatory environment has reached new levels of maturity, creating unprecedented opportunities for institutional-grade crypto banking services. It cites the Securities and Futures Commission's ASPIRe roadmap rollout on the city’s development as a virtual assets hub, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s stablecoin licensing framework that took effect on August 1, and the government's Digital Asset Policy 2.0 initiative.

The bank says it aims to capitalize on these developments, while delivering a trusted partnership that clients require when embracing crypto innovation. “Enhanced technology platforms launching in H2 2025, combined with new strategic partnerships in Hong Kong, will further strengthen our position as the essential infrastructure for institutional crypto adoption,” Amina says.