Published on 29 August 2025

Switzerland as a fintech nation: stability meets progress

Education, openness, innovation. These three assets have enabled Switzerland to build one of the world's most competitive financial centres. Other key factors are the country's sound political system and efficient public authorities.

Switzerland is stable, business-oriented and internationally connected. Its competitive tax policy, combined with an open trade and foreign policy, creates a favourable environment for emerging sectors. Switzerland retained its top position in the Global Innovation Index published by the World Intellectual Property Organization, a UN agency, for the 14th consecutive year in 2024. The combination of solid foundations and forward thinking enables Switzerland to play a leading role in the fintech sector.

• Facts and figures

  

  The financial sector accounts for 9.1% of GDP (72 bn), employs 200,000 people and is a global leader in cross-border wealth management.

  

  Zurich is home to major tech companies (Google, Microsoft, IBM, OpenAI, etc.); Google's largest development centre outside the United States is in Switzerland.

  

  There are over 500 fintech firms and more than 1,200 blockchain companies (mainly in Zug's so-called Crypto Valley). Zurich and Geneva are among the top four fintech hubs worldwide.

  

  Over 3% of GDP is spent on research and development (R&D) annually; the patent density is the world's highest.

  

  Leading universities such as the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zurich) and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) are among the top 20 worldwide. ETH Zurich is the global leader in terms of the number of tech spin-offs.

What we do

Switzerland recognised early on that an optimal regulatory framework is key to promoting innovation. It has launched numerous digital finance initiatives in recent years, ranging from regulatory adjustments and technology pilot projects to collaborations between public authorities, academia and the private sector.

Research and private sector entrepreneurship are responsible for the development and deployment of new digital technologies and products. The state's role is to provide the best possible framework conditions. Change processes are to be enabled, risks are to be addressed, stability, integrity and international competitiveness are to be maintained, and the sustainability and interconnectedness of the financial centre are to be promoted.

Switzerland pursues a principle-based approach to regulation. This means that legislation and supervision focus on general principles rather than detailed regulations. The aim is to leave as much scope as possible for innovation. The guiding principles are technology and competition neutrality, and there is thus the aspiration to treat the same business models and the same risks equally.

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Our publications

• Report on the risk of money laundering and the financing of terrorism through cryptoassets (2024)

  The analysis shows that, in the area of money laundering and terrorist financing, the risks arising from the use of cryptocurrencies have increased since the 2018 assessment.

  Risk of money laundering and the financing of terrorism through cryptoassets

• Report on digital finance (2022)

  The report on digital finance was prepared in order to identify specific areas of action for the federal government. The report was the starting point for more in-depth work and set corresponding priorities.

  Digital finance: areas of action 2022+

  Factsheet: 12 measures for a strong Swiss digital financial centre

• Report on the revision of the Banking Act – evaluation of fintech licence (2022)

  The revision of the Banking Act and Banking Ordinance in June 2018 was intended to lower the barriers to market entry for fintech firms and thus promote innovation. Parliament instructed the Federal Council to review the effectiveness of the amendments three years after they came into force.

  Federal Council report on the amendments of 15 June 2018 to the Banking Act

• Report on the risk of money laundering and terrorist financing posed by cryptoassets and crowdfunding (2018)

  The report concluded that cryptoassets and online crowdfunding pose significant risks in the area of money laundering and terrorist financing.

  Risk of money laundering and terrorist financing posed by cryptoassets and crowdfunding

• DLT report (2018)

  In the report published in December 2018, the Federal Council analysed the relevant legal framework conditions for distributed ledger technology (DLT) and blockchain in Switzerland and derived the next steps from this.

  Federal Council report on the legal framework for distributed ledger technology and blockchain in Switzerland

• Publications FIND

  • Academia-Industry Collaboration in FinanceModels of Success

    PDF241.33 kB28 August 2025

  • Bridge for FinTech Founders

    PDF132.15 kB23 June 2025

  • Buliding Blocks for Smart Finance in Switzerland

    PDF6.39 MB16 April 2025

  • Action Plan to a Quantum-Safe Financial Future

    PDF449.13 kB19 March 2025

  • Pathway 2035 for Financial Innovation- Your Navigator

    PDF4.13 MB21 January 2025

  • Annual Report 2024 FIND

    PDF3.63 MB10 January 2025

  • Innosuisse for FinTech Founders

    PDF145.26 kB30 November 2024

In our pipeline

• Point Zero Forum (2026)

  Held annually in Zurich, the PZF brings together a select community of global decision-makers to build trust in cutting-edge innovation, co-design next-generation financial architecture and align on regulatory pathways that are both robust and enabling.

  Pre-register for 2026

• Regulatory project – stablecoins and digital assets (2023-2026)

  Switzerland is keen to offer payment service providers (PSPs) and fintech firms favourable conditions and to allow stablecoin (PSP) and digital asset (cryptoasset service provider, CASP) business models, for example, subject to clear guidelines. The legislative project will be submitted for consultation in autumn 2025.

• SIF AI report (2025)

  SIF is conducting a comprehensive analysis of all financial market regulations with regard to gaps and obstacles for AI use in the financial market. The report is expected to be published in Q4 2025 or Q1 2026.

• Progress on open finance (2025)

  The authorities are continuing to keep an eye on open finance initiatives. In the event of self-regulation faltering, binding regulations could also be discussed in the future. However, as long as the sector cooperates successfully, the market-oriented model is likely to remain. The next report for the Federal Council is due by the end of 2025.

• Strategy update (2025)

  By the end of 2025, a report will be submitted to the Federal Council on the developments and outcomes arising from the digital finance 2022+ report. At the same time, the priorities for further promoting innovation and digitalisation in the financial sector will be outlined.