Blab Crypto
Bison Bank Becomes Portugals First MiCA-Regulated Crypto-Asset Service Provider
On July 29, 2026, Bison Bank announced it has become Portugal’s first bank to operate directly as a Crypto‑Asset Service Provider (CASP) under the European Markets in Crypto‑Assets (MiCA) regulation. The declaration, issued by Media OutReach Newswire, follows the bank’s earlier launch of Bison Digital Assets (BDA) – the country’s first virtual‑asset service provider – which received approval from the Bank of Portugal in 2022.
BDA’s 2025 record shows service to 275 clients and a traded volume of €165 million. By merging BDA into its core operations, Bison Bank now offers a single, regulated entity that blends traditional banking infrastructure with crypto‑asset custody, exchange, and advisory services.
“Early entry into the digital‑asset space positioned us to bring the future of banking into the heart of the bank once a clear European framework was in place,” said CEO António Henriques. The new CASP licence is passportable across the EU, allowing Bison Bank to provide institutional clients with streamlined on‑chain access while maintaining bank‑grade compliance and risk management.
The CASP structure also supports the launch of two e‑money tokens, the EUB and USB, and is designed to facilitate future real‑world asset (RWA) tokenisation projects. These products fit into Bison Bank’s broader strategy to embed blockchain technology into its private‑banking and corporate‑advisory offerings.
Financially, the bank reported a recurring net profit of €5 million in 2025, double the previous year, and a Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) capital ratio of 38.5 %, among the highest in European banking. Bison Bank’s digital‑asset initiatives earned the “Portugal’s Best for Digital Assets” award at the Euromoney Global Private Banking Awards 2026.
Bison Bank, S.A., based in Lisbon, provides private banking, depositary, corporate advisory and digital‑asset services to high‑net‑worth individuals and institutional clients. Its wholly‑owned subsidiary, Bison Digital Assets, S.A., was the first VASP licensed by the Bank of Portugal.
The CASP licence places Bison Bank in a limited group of 30 EU banking institutions authorised to offer crypto‑asset services under MiCA. The regulation, adopted by the EU Parliament on 20 April 2023 and fully effective since December 2024, establishes a unified framework for crypto‑assets not covered by existing financial‑services legislation.
By merging BDA into its core operations, Bison Bank aims to leverage its strong capital base and regulatory compliance to expand on‑chain capabilities. The leadership notes that the CASP licence will enable it to meet the growing demand for regulated custody and exchange services among institutional investors.
The announcement arrives as several European banks pursue CASP authorisations to satisfy client demand for digital‑asset services while adhering to MiCA’s stringent capital, governance and consumer‑protection requirements.
Bison Bank’s move is expected to influence the broader Portuguese and European banking sector by demonstrating how traditional banks can integrate regulated crypto‑asset services within their existing business models. Its experience as a VASP and recent financial performance provide a foundation for scaling digital‑asset offerings in line with MiCA’s regulatory expectations.
The CASP licence marks a significant milestone for Bison Bank and for Portugal’s financial sector, signalling the country’s readiness to support regulated crypto‑asset activity within the EU’s unified regulatory framework.
BDA’s 2025 record shows service to 275 clients and a traded volume of €165 million. By merging BDA into its core operations, Bison Bank now offers a single, regulated entity that blends traditional banking infrastructure with crypto‑asset custody, exchange, and advisory services.
“Early entry into the digital‑asset space positioned us to bring the future of banking into the heart of the bank once a clear European framework was in place,” said CEO António Henriques. The new CASP licence is passportable across the EU, allowing Bison Bank to provide institutional clients with streamlined on‑chain access while maintaining bank‑grade compliance and risk management.
The CASP structure also supports the launch of two e‑money tokens, the EUB and USB, and is designed to facilitate future real‑world asset (RWA) tokenisation projects. These products fit into Bison Bank’s broader strategy to embed blockchain technology into its private‑banking and corporate‑advisory offerings.
Financially, the bank reported a recurring net profit of €5 million in 2025, double the previous year, and a Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) capital ratio of 38.5 %, among the highest in European banking. Bison Bank’s digital‑asset initiatives earned the “Portugal’s Best for Digital Assets” award at the Euromoney Global Private Banking Awards 2026.
Bison Bank, S.A., based in Lisbon, provides private banking, depositary, corporate advisory and digital‑asset services to high‑net‑worth individuals and institutional clients. Its wholly‑owned subsidiary, Bison Digital Assets, S.A., was the first VASP licensed by the Bank of Portugal.
The CASP licence places Bison Bank in a limited group of 30 EU banking institutions authorised to offer crypto‑asset services under MiCA. The regulation, adopted by the EU Parliament on 20 April 2023 and fully effective since December 2024, establishes a unified framework for crypto‑assets not covered by existing financial‑services legislation.
By merging BDA into its core operations, Bison Bank aims to leverage its strong capital base and regulatory compliance to expand on‑chain capabilities. The leadership notes that the CASP licence will enable it to meet the growing demand for regulated custody and exchange services among institutional investors.
The announcement arrives as several European banks pursue CASP authorisations to satisfy client demand for digital‑asset services while adhering to MiCA’s stringent capital, governance and consumer‑protection requirements.
Bison Bank’s move is expected to influence the broader Portuguese and European banking sector by demonstrating how traditional banks can integrate regulated crypto‑asset services within their existing business models. Its experience as a VASP and recent financial performance provide a foundation for scaling digital‑asset offerings in line with MiCA’s regulatory expectations.
The CASP licence marks a significant milestone for Bison Bank and for Portugal’s financial sector, signalling the country’s readiness to support regulated crypto‑asset activity within the EU’s unified regulatory framework.
