Digital finance in Switzerland: Federal Council informed about the status of measures

New technologies and innovative business models are shaping the future of the financial markets and will have a significant impact on the success of the Swiss financial centre and the quality of its services. For this reason, the Federal Council defined twelve priority areas of action with specific measures in its 2022 report on digital finance. The federal government is to create optimal framework conditions for innovation, with due consideration for the risks involved.

Ongoing and implemented measures since 2022

Since the publication of the report on digital finance, the FDF has initiated and implemented important measures in collaboration with other authorities, the private sector and academia:

• New configurations and players, and distributed ledger technology (DLT): the consultation on a proposal that aims to improve the current “fintech licence” and regulate the handling of stablecoins and other cryptocurrencies more reliably is currently under way.
• Potential for innovation: following a two-year pilot phase, the Financial Innovation Desk (FIND), which was established in 2023, was integrated into the State Secretariat for International Finance (SIF) in an optimised form on 1 September 2025.
• Open finance: in the area of open finance, the objectives defined by the Federal Council in 2022 have triggered various initiatives, particularly in the banking sector (e.g. multibanking). A separate review will follow by the end of the year.
• Green fintech: the Green Fintech Network was transformed into an association in 2023, and is being successfully continued by the sector.
• Cyber- and money laundering risks: the stability and integrity of the financial centre has been strengthened through cooperation between the authorities and the private sector, for example with the Swiss Financial Sector Cybersecurity Centre in the field of cyber-resilience or with the Swiss Financial Intelligence Public Private Partnership with regard to the risks of terrorist financing and money laundering.

Next steps in the areas of action

The areas of action defined by the Federal Council in 2022 continue to form the basis for further work:

• Artificial intelligence: a sectoral analysis of the need for action regarding financial market law will be submitted to the Federal Council in the coming months.
• Cloud use: in the area of cloud computing and outsourcing, an in-depth clarification of the need for action will be carried out, focusing on the avoidance of risks to financial stability.
• Potential for innovation: the fifth Point Zero Forum will take place in Zurich in June 2026, and will be accompanied by the SwissHacks hackathon. This event will bring together global decision-makers in the financial sector, as well as experts.
• RegTech and suptech: the FDF strives to support FINMA in particular in promoting new technology in regulatory compliance and supervision.
• Data use and data flows: the FDF will continue to monitor ongoing international and national work (e.g. on e-ID) and promote cooperation. Furthermore, a review will be carried out to determine whether additional measures should be taken.

At the international level, Switzerland will continue to work in the Financial Stability Board (FSB), the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other bodies to campaign for the innovation-friendly design and implementation of global standards. At the same time, access to international markets should be improved.