TL;DR
- Banca Sella became the first Italian bank authorized under MiCA to provide crypto-related services.
- The lender plans to introduce digital asset custody, transfer and receipt solutions this year while strengthening its role in tokenization and stablecoin initiatives.
- The approval also reinforces Europe’s position as a growing regulated crypto banking market, where traditional financial institutions increasingly integrate Bitcoin and blockchain infrastructure.
Banca Sella has received authorization from the Bank of Italy under the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets regulation, allowing the institution to move ahead with crypto-asset services. The approval makes Banca Sella the first bank in Italy officially cleared under MiCA to operate in the digital asset sector.
The bank said its future offering will focus on custody, transfer and receipt services for digital assets. The launch is expected this year and will initially target selected customer categories, including corporate clients and investors seeking regulated access to crypto services.
The move reflects a broader transformation across Europe, where traditional banks increasingly integrate blockchain technology into financial infrastructure instead of treating crypto as a parallel market.
Banca Sella Strengthens Its Crypto Strategy
Banca Sella already maintained exposure to digital assets before receiving MiCA authorization. Through Hype, its digital banking platform developed alongside Italian crypto company Conio, the group enabled customers to buy, sell and store Bitcoin directly through a mobile application starting in 2020.
The lender also participated in distributed ledger technology initiatives supported by the Bank of Italy’s Fintech Milano Hub. In recent years, the bank created a dedicated internal team focused on blockchain infrastructure, tokenization and digital assets.
Andrea Tessera, managing director of digital banking at Banca Sella, said tokenized finance is accelerating the evolution of instant and programmable payment systems across Europe. His comments reflect the growing interest among European banks in blockchain-based settlement networks and tokenized financial products.
European Banks Expand Regulated Crypto Services
MiCA is increasingly providing European banks with a unified legal framework for crypto operations. Institutions including Commerzbank, BBVA and Société Générale FORGE have also expanded digital asset services under the regulation.
Banca Sella is also involved in Qivalis, a consortium of 37 European banks working on a euro-denominated stablecoin initiative. The group additionally participates in tokenization projects such as Pontes and Appia, both designed to strengthen European financial infrastructure and support regional payment independence.
The approval suggests that regulated crypto services are becoming part of mainstream banking strategy across Europe. Instead of limiting activity to experimental pilots, banks are increasingly building licensed custody platforms, blockchain payment systems and tokenized financial products aimed at long-term adoption.
