Is Zürcher Kantonalbank crypto friendly?

Yes for buying and holding crypto inside the bank, but nothing moves in or out.

CBL Score: 6 of 16

CriterionScoreSource
Accepts exchange transferspartial (1)unverified
Stablecoin off-rampno (0)source · checked 8 September 2026
Business accounts for Web3no (0)source · checked 8 September 2026
Custodyyes (2)source · checked 8 September 2026
Staking and yieldno (0)source · checked 8 September 2026
Cardpartial (1)source · checked 8 September 2026
Multiple jurisdictionsno (0)source · checked 8 September 2026
Open to retailyes (2)source · checked 8 September 2026

Total 6 of 16. Yes scores 2, partial 1, no 0. A secondary source is press or a third party rather than the bank or its regulator. Unverified means no source could be found; the score stands until one is.

Score history

Scores are revised when a bank's documents change. Each revision is dated and sourced.

8 September 2026Stablecoin off-ramppartial to nosource
8 September 2026Cardno to partialsource

Standing

JurisdictionSwitzerland
TypeTraditional
Health tagSolid Full cantonal state guarantee, AAA-rated, over CHF 1bn net profit in 2024. · checked 26 August 2026
Last verified8 September 2026

What Zürcher Kantonalbank allows and blocks

Allowed

  • Buy and sell Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana and Chainlink around the clock in ZKB eBanking and the ZKB Mobile Banking app
  • Bank-run custody: ZKB holds the private keys, you need no wallet of your own
  • Crypto holdings sit in your normal ZKB securities depot and appear on the same statement as shares and bonds
  • Trades are executed through Crypto Finance AG, a Deutsche Börse subsidiary licensed by FINMA
  • Other Swiss banks can plug into the same trading and custody service under a white-label deal; Thurgauer Kantonalbank was the first

Blocked or restricted

  • No transfers of crypto to or from the bank: you cannot deposit coins from an external wallet or withdraw to one
  • No staking or other yield services
  • No stablecoins in the tradable list, only BTC, ETH, SOL and LINK
  • Crypto held at ZKB cannot be used for payments
  • Only clients domiciled in Switzerland can trade; US persons are excluded
  • Execution only: no advice and no discretionary mandate on crypto
  • No published policy on fiat transfers to or from crypto exchanges such as Kraken or Coinbase

Opening an account

Fees that matter

Regulatory history

2013The Swiss National Bank designated ZKB as systemically important by decree of 1 November 2013, after consulting FINMA, placing it under the too-big-to-fail regime alongside UBS and Credit Suisse. source
2024On 4 September 2024 ZKB launched Bitcoin and Ether trading and custody for retail clients, executed through Crypto Finance AG, plus a white-label service for other Swiss banks. source
2025FINMA confirmed on 28 August 2025 that ZKB's emergency plan meets regulatory requirements and approved its recovery plan, with no shortcomings noted. source

Questions about Zürcher Kantonalbank

Does ZKB let me send money to Kraken or Coinbase?

ZKB does not publish a policy on fiat transfers to crypto exchanges. Its crypto pages only describe buying and selling inside eBanking and the app. Outgoing SEPA payments are free in eBanking and other foreign payments cost CHF 4 per item, but whether a payment to an exchange goes through is not stated anywhere on the site.

Can I withdraw Bitcoin from ZKB to my own wallet?

No. ZKB states that it is currently not possible to transfer cryptocurrencies to the bank or have them delivered by the bank. Coins bought at ZKB stay in the bank's custody until you sell them. Staking and paying with crypto are also ruled out.

What does it cost to buy Bitcoin at ZKB?

Orders placed in eBanking or the app cost 1.00% up to CHF 250,000 and 0.75% above that, minimum CHF 10. Custody adds 0.50% a year with a floor of CHF 5 a month per position. Purchases settle in US dollars, so paying from a CHF account also carries an FX spread of up to 1.00% on small amounts.

Which cryptocurrencies can I trade at Zürcher Kantonalbank?

Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana and Chainlink. There are no stablecoins on the list. You need a ZKB securities depot with an execution-only agreement, a signed crypto custody agreement, and a Swiss domicile. US persons cannot use the service.

Closest alternatives

9/16PostFinance
Yes. PostFinance sells, holds and stakes crypto in its own app, but only for Swiss residents and with no way to move coins to your own wallet.
7/16Luzerner Kantonalbank
Yes. Crypto trading, custody and wallet transfers are built into the bank's own e-banking, for Swiss residents.
Compare against 35 other banks →

Lists featuring Zürcher Kantonalbank

Traditional banksCrypto-friendly banks with exchange transfersCrypto-friendly banks with custodyCrypto-friendly banks with a cardCrypto-friendly banks with exchange transfers and custodyCrypto-friendly banks with exchange transfers and a card