Italy’s Banca Sella Wins MiCA Clearance to Offer Crypto-Asset Services

The European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) became fully applicable on December 30, 2024, harmonizing authorization, governance and customer-protection requirements for crypto-asset service providers. Banca Sella’s clearance shows that regulated banks can provide digital-asset services directly under Italy’s regulatory framework, marking a significant market precedent.

Banca Sella said it had completed the notification procedure under MiCA, becoming the first Italian bank authorized to provide crypto-asset services. The bank plans to begin offering digital-asset custody, transfer and receipt services to selected customers in 2026. It has not disclosed fees, supported assets, the investment amount or an exact launch date.