Swiss banking giant UBS Group AG plans to open access to cryptocurrency transactions for selected clients, expanding its presence in the digital assets segment amid growing demand from high-net-worth investors.
UBS Group AG is planning to launch a crypto trading service for a limited group of clients in Switzerland. Bloomberg reports this, citing a source within the company.
According to the publication, UBS is currently in the process of selecting partners for the launch of the crypto service. A final decision on the format and timeline is yet to be made, but discussions around the initiative have been ongoing for several months. At the initial stage, private banking clients in Switzerland are expected to gain the ability to buy and sell BTC and ETH. Later, access to the service may be extended to clients in the Asia-Pacific region and the United States.
As of September 30, 2025, UBS had approximately $4.7 trillion in assets under management.
The project would mark a notable shift in the bank’s strategy, as UBS previously took a cautious approach to virtual assets. The main driver behind the reassessment of the bank’s position was the growing interest in crypto among wealthy investors.
Moreover, UBS, like many global banks, previously focused on using blockchain mainly for launching tokenized funds and payment solutions, avoiding direct cryptocurrency trading due to strict capital requirements. However, in November 2025, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) announced an accelerated review of certain regulations governing banks’ crypto exposures, which is expected to significantly simplify the launch of such products.
UBS’s plans are unfolding against the backdrop of increased activity from competitors. For example, this year, Morgan Stanley is preparing to launch a crypto trading service via E*TRADE in partnership with ZeroHash, while JPMorgan is exploring the possibility of launching a digital asset trading service for institutional investors.
