Panorama
Discover the highlights from the world of finance, innovation and sustainability.
Since it began operating in Switzerland 50 years ago, BBVA’s Swiss subsidiary has built a reputation for exceptional international private banking services. With a client-focused business model and technology as a driving force in financial transformation, the bank continues to lead in an industry increasingly shaped by innovation and digital assets.
Sixteen years have gone by since conversations about blockchain first began, highlighting this technology's signature feature as an encrypted digital ledger that is both immutable and unfalsifiable. During this period, the financial landscape has been in constant flux. The world of blockchain keeps surprising us, with banks broadening their crypto offerings, companies increasing their use of the technology, the growth of decentralized finance, and the emergence of Bitcoin funds.
Switzerland has already established itself as a global hub for fintech, the most innovative and emerging sector in the financial industry. It has successfully regulated blockchain technology and the crypto ecosystem, attracting hundreds of startups. It has also created a testing ground for new financial ventures. Switzerland is playing a pioneering role.
An important point: Switzerland is the country in the world with the highest number of sustainability-oriented start-ups in relation to its population. In addition, sustainable investments are supported by financial industry collaboration, government and institutional involvement, and the regulatory framework. In 2021, the volume of invested assets came close to 2 trillion Swiss francs.
The international publication has awarded BBVA's cryptoasset service in Switzerland and an automated process developed by the bank to support the creation and application of machine learning models for early debt detection and management with two Innovators awards.
BBVA Switzerland has signed a collaboration agreement with blockchain company Metaco to host its pioneering digital asset custody service in Europe on the Harmonize platform.™premièred 36 years ago. This agreement marks a new phase in the bank's crypto strategy, emphasizing the highest security standards and greater transaction agility. Additionally, it paves the way for BBVA to expand its range of services in the future to better meet the needs of its institutional clients.
With over $3.8 billion in cryptocurrencies stolen in 2022, traditional banks are regaining ground as service providers for the custody of cryptoassets. Alfonso Gómez, CEO of BBVA Switzerland, highlighted this during the El Confidencial event. For more than two years, BBVA Switzerland has been enabling its clients to manage bitcoin and ether, along with their other investments, from the same app.
Participants in the training session also had the opportunity to socialize in the virtual streets of the Legendaryum metaverse. BBVA has signed a collaboration agreement with Legendaryum to explore how these new channels can transform the model of remote customer relations.
BBVA Switzerland strengthens its competencies in digital assets with a new hire.
BBVA's CEO in Switzerland participated in the fifth edition of the Crypto Valley conference, the flagship event of the Crypto Valley Association (CVA), where he, along with other industry leaders, emphasized the role of banking in blockchain developments.
Cryptocurrencies and "blockchain" technology have become ubiquitous topics, representing a new form of global economy. BBVA in Switzerland has launched "Blockchain to go", a series of educational pills designed to provide individuals and businesses with the necessary knowledge to navigate this new field with confidence and security.
With more than 1,000 blockchain companies generating 6,000 jobs, Switzerland has become a "crypto nation" in the past decade. The coming together of different factors, such as innovation, economic environment, regulatory bodies and the development of a "crypto" context, have favoured this transformation.
BBVA's Swiss subsidiary has expanded its cryptoassets custody and trading service, which now supports trading in Ether. Ether, developed by Ethereum, is the second most widely used cryptocurrency after Bitcoin and expands BBVA Switzerland's groundbreaking range of products and services.
After six months of testing with a selected group of users, BBVA Switzerland is making its first cryptoasset trading and custody service available to all its private banking customers.
BBVA has started to deploy tests of its first commercial service for buying, selling, and holding digital assets. The new service, to be offered through BBVA Switzerland, will enable Bitcoin transactions and deposits with this cryptocurrency.