Amina Bank’s Austrian subsidiary has just become the first banking group to acquire a MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation) licence, and with it, a new era for European digital finance begins.
For years, the crypto sector has operated under fragmented national rules. MiCA replaces that patchwork with a single, harmonised regulatory framework across the EU’s 27 member states.
It brings long-awaited clarity, giving institutions the confidence to build compliant crypto services that meet the standards of traditional banking.
For Europe’s investors and financial institutions, Amina’s recent approval demonstrates that digital assets can be managed within a trusted, regulated environment.
Broadgate’s Callum Dudrenec examines what this moment means for Europe’s financial landscape, and how regulation, innovation, and talent are converging to define the next phase of digital finance.
From Regulation to Opportunity
MiCA’s most transformative feature may be its “passporting” mechanism. Once authorised in one EU member state, a licensed firm can offer regulated crypto services, including custody, trading, portfolio management and staking, across the entire single market.
This creates an unprecedented opportunity for firms to scale rapidly, and it will intensify competition between incumbent banks, fintechs, and emerging crypto specialists.
Early movers like Amina are now positioned to shape this new financial architecture, using regulation as a growth enabler rather than a constraint.
The Talent Behind Compliance
This regulatory shift has immediate consequences for the talent market. Financial institutions are expanding teams in compliance, risk, and legal to interpret MiCA’s capital, governance, and AML requirements.
At the same time, technology and product specialists are building the infrastructure to deliver secure, compliant digital asset services.
The next generation of financial professionals will need fluency in both regulatory frameworks and decentralised systems.
Rising Skill Demands in Switzerland
The data tells the story. According to Broadgate’s LinkedIn data, the fastest-growing asset management skills in Swiss financial services in the past 12 months are:
- Strategic Financial Management: +67%
- IT Asset Management: +50%
- Wealth Accumulation: +31%
- Income Protection Insurance: +30%
- Wealth Preservation Planning: +29%
- Modern Portfolio Theory: +22%
- Analytical Skills: +21%
The shifts spotlight the convergence of digital and traditional finance. Demand is growing for professionals with experience in both(people with backgrounds in payments, blockchain, and data integrity), as well as those who can translate legal principles into practical systems and controls.
In Switzerland, where private banking, fintech, and crypto expertise already coexist, this fusion is accelerating.
Firms are seeking talent capable of guiding clients through an increasingly complex digital economy, supported by institutional standards and cross-border reach.
Looking Ahead
MiCA’s implementation marks the institutionalisation of digital assets. It is setting higher standards, fuelling cross-market growth, and redefining the skills needed to keep pace.
For employers, regulatory readiness is now inseparable from talent readiness. Those who build adaptable, knowledgeable teams today will be the ones to lead Europe’s evolving crypto-finance landscape tomorrow.
At Broadgate, we continue to support financial institutions across the DACH region as they prepare for this next phase, from connecting expertise, compliance, and innovation at the centre of Europe’s digital future.
If you’re currently exploring opportunities in the crypto and digital asset space, Broadgate are happy to share what we’re seeing in the market. Reach out to Callum directly here: callum.dudrenec@broadgatesearch.com.