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Sygnum
Sygnum launched in 2017 as a venture between Swiss and Singapore-based founders, including Mathias Imbach and Gerald Goh, with early backing from Swiss...
Sygnum
Sygnum launched in 2017 as a venture between Swiss and Singapore-based founders, including Mathias Imbach and Gerald Goh, with early backing from Swiss stock exchange operator SIX Group. The firm obtained a Swiss banking license from FINMA in 2019, becoming one of the world's first regulated digital asset banks. Its Singapore subsidiary holds a capital markets services license from the Monetary Authority of Singapore, giving Sygnum regulated access to two of Asia's and Europe's key financial hubs. The firm's strategy spans institutional-grade custody, trading, lending, and tokenization services. Sygnum offers regulated exposure to digital assets through a suite of products including direct crypto custody, a multi-manager fund of hedge funds, and private credit secured by digital assets. The bank tokenizes traditional assets such as fine art and private equity shares, and it issued its own CHF-backed stablecoin, Sygnum Coin. Its lending desk extends fiat loans against crypto collateral. In 2023, Sygnum expanded its B2B offering, enabling other banks to offer regulated digital asset services through its platform. Sygnum has grown to roughly 250 professionals across Zurich and Singapore. The firm reports over $4 billion in client assets under administration, driven by demand from institutional investors, family offices, and high-net-worth individuals. In January 2024, Sygnum closed a $40 million funding round at a $900 million valuation, led by Milan-based Azimut Group (per Bloomberg, January 2024). Proceeds are directed toward expanding in the EU and bolstering its tokenization infrastructure. SIX Group remains a strategic partner and investor. Sygnum's structural differentiator is its regulated custody and tokenization architecture paired with a traditional banking license. This allows institutional allocators to invest in digital assets and tokenized securities without the counterparty risk of unregulated exchanges. The firm's role as both a custodian and issuer bridges the gap between decentralized infrastructure and compliance-heavy institutional mandates, a position few global competitors hold at equal regulatory depth in both Europe and Asia-Pacific.
General information
Firm type
Private Equity
Year founded
2017
AUM
$2B - $5B (Altss estimate)
Location
Region
Europe
Country
Switzerland
City
Zurich
Corporate office
Zurich, Switzerland
Additional offices
Singapore
Principals
Mathias Imbach
Group Chief Executive Officer
Gerald Goh
Co-Founder and CEO, Sygnum Singapore
Luka Müller
Co-Founder
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
How does Sygnum's regulatory status in Switzerland differ from most crypto-native firms?
Sygnum holds a full Swiss banking license from FINMA, which subjects it to the same capital, conduct, and prudential standards as traditional Swiss banks. Most crypto exchanges and custodians operate without a banking license, limiting their ability to offer fiat-crypto on-ramps directly. Sygnum's license allows it to take deposits, issue securities, and provide credit against digital assets under Swiss banking law (per the firm's official communications).
Who runs investment decisions at Sygnum?
Group CEO Mathias Imbach oversees the firm's overall strategy, while the asset management and credit functions are run by dedicated teams in Zurich and Singapore. Sygnum does not disclose a single CIO; investment products, including the digital asset multi-manager fund and private credit offerings, are managed by specialist portfolio managers within the licensed banking entity.
Is Sygnum structured as a bank or an asset manager?
Sygnum operates as a technology-driven bank with an asset management vertical. Its Swiss entity is licensed as a bank by FINMA, while its Singapore entity is a licensed asset manager under the Monetary Authority of Singapore. The firm earns fees from custody, trading, lending, and management of its fund products, making it a hybrid financial institution rather than a pure-play asset manager.
Does Sygnum participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?
Sygnum offers both fund-of-funds access and direct exposure vehicles. Its multi-manager digital asset fund allocates to external crypto hedge fund managers. The firm also provides direct custody and brokerage for clients who want to hold digital assets outright. Its tokenization platform enables direct investment into tokenized traditional assets such as private equity and real estate.
What role does SIX Group play in Sygnum's ownership?
SIX Group, the operator of the Swiss Stock Exchange, was an early strategic investor in Sygnum and remains a shareholder. The partnership gives Sygnum institutional credibility and access to SIX's listing and post-trade infrastructure. SIX's participation also anchors Sygnum's ambition to become a regulated venue for digital asset trading and settlement in Europe.
What is Sygnum's known posture on co-investments alongside external GPs?
Sygnum does not publicly market a co-investment program alongside external GPs. Its primary avenue for external manager exposure is the multi-manager digital asset fund, which does not typically include co-investment rights for fund-limited partners. For tokenized assets, Sygnum structures direct participation rather than co-investment via third-party funds.
Does Sygnum maintain any philanthropic structures, and how are they separated?
There is no public record of a dedicated philanthropic foundation under the Sygnum brand. The firm's platform has been used by non-profits and charitable foundations to gain regulated exposure to digital assets, but Sygnum itself does not operate a separate philanthropic vehicle. Such clients are serviced through the standard institutional custody and brokerage channels.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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