Sygnum

Sygnum’s main activity is banking specialized in digital assets. Sygnum offers banking and financial services focused on the management, custody, trading, and financing of digital assets such as cryptocurrencies and tokens. It also provides asset tokenization solutions, allowing traditional assets (real estate, works of art, shares, etc.) to be transformed into digital tokens that can be traded on the blockchain.Sygnum is aimed primarily at institutional investors, companies, family offices, and high-net-worth clients who wish to access the digital asset ecosystem in a secure and regulated manner. The bank thus offers bank accounts, asset management services, secure custody, trading, lending, and tokenization services, while complying with Swiss and international regulatory requirements.

Sygnum is a Swiss bank specializing in digital assets, founded in 2017 in Zurich. It was created by a team of experts from traditional finance, technology, and regulation, with the goal of bridging the gap between traditional finance and the digital asset economy.

Key milestones in Sygnum's development:

• 2017: Sygnum is founded in Zurich, Switzerland, by Mathias Imbach, Manuel Krieger, Gerald Goh, and other co-founders.
• 2019: Sygnum obtains the Swiss banking license from FINMA, becoming one of the first regulated digital asset banks in the world. In the same year, Sygnum also obtains a capital markets services license in Singapore.
• Product launches: Sygnum offers digital banking services, including custody, trading, lending, and asset management for cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other tokens. It also launches tokenization solutions for real-world assets (real estate, artworks, etc.).
• Strategic partnerships: Sygnum partners with financial institutions, technology companies, and blockchain platforms to expand its offering and strengthen its position in the digital asset market.
• Acquisitions and expansion: Sygnum expands its activities internationally, notably in Asia, and develops new digital financial products, such as stablecoins and DeFi (decentralized finance) solutions.
• Strategic changes: The company regularly adapts its strategy to respond to the rapid evolution of the digital asset sector, focusing on regulatory compliance, technological innovation, and client security.

Today, Sygnum is recognized as a pioneer in digital banking, offering a full range of financial services for individuals, businesses, and institutional investors in the digital asset space.

The founder of Sygnum is Mathias Imbach. The main members of the management team also include Manuel Krieger (co-founder), Gerald Goh (co-founder and CEO of Sygnum Singapore), and Martin Burgherr (Chief Clients Officer). The management team also includes other key members responsible for operations, compliance, technology, and business development.

Sygnum has been funded since its creation through several major fundraising rounds, with the participation of institutional and strategic investors. Here are the main stages of its financing:

2017-2018: Sygnum was founded in 2017, with the idea born during the Singapore Fintech Festival in November 2017. The company was incorporated in Switzerland in May 2018 and in Singapore in June 2018.

2019: Sygnum Bank obtained its banking license from FINMA in August 2019, allowing it to attract its first institutional clients and partners. In October 2019, Sygnum launched an early-stage fund in partnership with SBI, a strategic Japanese investor.

2021: In September 2021, Sygnum launched a fund in partnership with SBI and Azimut, an Italian asset manager, marking the entry of new institutional investors.

2022: In January 2022, Sygnum completed a USD 90 million Series B fundraising round, bringing the company’s valuation to USD 800 million. Investors included Sun Hung Kai & Co., SBI Holdings, Azimut Holding, and other institutional investors.

2024: In January 2024, Sygnum announced an oversubscribed USD 40 million growth round financing, strengthening its position as a leader in the digital asset market.

2025: In January 2025, Sygnum reached unicorn status with a valuation of USD 1 billion.

Summary of main investors: SBI Holdings, Azimut Holding, Sun Hung Kai & Co., as well as other international institutional and strategic investors.

Key fundraising dates:

• October 2019: Launch of the early-stage fund with SBI
• September 2021: Launch of the fund with SBI & Azimut
• January 2022: Series B, USD 90 million
• January 2024: Growth round, USD 40 million

Sygnum has therefore benefited from progressive funding, supported by major institutional investors, which has enabled it to become the first regulated digital asset bank and to achieve unicorn status in 2025.