Bison Bank has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first bank in Portugal to operate directly as a Crypto-Asset Service Provider (CASP) under the European MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets) regulation. This move consolidates the bank's position at the forefront of financial innovation, bridging traditional finance with the digital asset economy. The CASP activity will be undertaken through the merger of its fully owned subsidiary, Bison Digital Assets (BDA), which has already been approved by the Bank of Portugal. This development follows a journey that began in 2022 when BDA became the first bank-owned Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) in the country.
António Henriques, CEO of Bison Bank, commented on the achievement: 'We were pioneers three years ago when we realized the future of banking would involve integrating digital assets. Now, with a clear and solid European framework like MiCA, we are bringing this area into the heart of the bank. The CASP license and the merger realize our vision for the bank of the future: a single, regulated entity with the robustness of a bank and the agility of the crypto world.'
Bison Bank's CASP license, along with the integration of BDA—which in 2025 served approximately 275 clients and handled a traded volume of €165 million—positions the bank to accelerate its on-chain strategy. The new CASP structure offers institutional clients simplified access to custody, exchange, and advisory services for crypto-assets under a bank-grade compliance and risk management framework. It also supports new products, including the recently launched EUB and USB E-money tokens (stablecoins), and future real-world asset (RWA) tokenization solutions.
This strategy is backed by the bank's financial strength. Bison Bank closed 2025 with a recurring net profit of €5 million, doubling the previous year, and a CET1 capital ratio of 38.5%, among the highest in European banking. Its leadership in digital assets was recognized with the 'Portugal's Best for Digital Assets' distinction at the Euromoney Global Private Banking Awards 2026.
The implications of this announcement are significant for the industry. Bison Bank joins a limited group of 30 EU banking institutions offering crypto-asset services under the new MiCA framework, which aims to provide regulatory clarity and consumer protection across Europe. This development could encourage other traditional banks to enter the digital asset space, potentially accelerating mainstream adoption of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology. For institutional clients, the availability of regulated custody, exchange, and advisory services under a bank-grade framework reduces risk and increases confidence in dealing with digital assets.
Furthermore, the integration of stablecoins like EUB and USB and future RWA tokenization solutions could pave the way for more efficient and transparent financial products. As the regulatory environment in Europe becomes clearer, banks like Bison Bank are well-positioned to lead the convergence of traditional and digital finance, offering clients the best of both worlds.
