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Last updated: April 2026
Dr. Marcus Hartmann — Senior Crypto Licensing Advisor
Senior Advisor · Zug, Switzerland

Dr. Marcus Hartmann

Bitcoin silver gold coins trading chart — Dr. Marcus Hartmann
LL.M. International Financial Law · Dr. iur. · Zurich Bar
22 years in financial services regulation
Advised 400+ crypto licensing mandates across 60+ jurisdictions
Former Head of Fintech at a Swiss-regulated law firm, Zug
Certified AML Officer (ACAMS), FINMA-registered practitioner
Fluent in English, German, and French

Dr. Marcus Hartmann has spent over two decades at the intersection of financial law and emerging technology. Based in Zug — Switzerland's crypto valley — he has guided startups, trading platforms, and institutional investors through the full spectrum of VASP licensing, from FINMA notifications to MiCA CASP applications and offshore structuring across 60+ jurisdictions.

He joined CryptoLicenses.net as Senior Licensing Advisor after a decade leading the fintech practice of a Swiss-regulated law firm, where he managed regulatory mandates in the UAE, Singapore, Liechtenstein, and the Cayman Islands. His approach combines deep regulatory expertise with a practical focus on cost, speed, and long-term compliance architecture.

Dr. Hartmann holds a doctorate in Swiss private law from the University of Bern and an LL.M. in International Financial Law from the University of Zurich. He is a member of the Swiss Bar Association and a Certified AML Specialist (ACAMS).

At a Glance
Years in practice 22
Mandates advised 400+
Jurisdictions covered 60+
Licences obtained 300+
Languages EN / DE / FR
Base Zug, CH
Certifications ACAMS / FINMA
Bitcoin stack coins laptop keyboard — Dr. Marcus Hartmann
Practice Areas

Areas of Expertise

VASP & Crypto Exchange Licensing
Full-cycle licensing across EU, MENA, Asia-Pacific, and offshore jurisdictions. MiCA CASP authorisations, FINMA VASP registrations, VARA Dubai approvals.
MiCA & EU Regulatory Compliance
Comprehensive MiCA readiness assessments, white-paper drafting, CASP application management, and ongoing compliance programme design for EU-passported operations.
AML/CFT Programme Design
Risk-based AML policies, CDD/EDD frameworks, transaction monitoring procedures, and regulatory reporting systems tailored to crypto-asset businesses.
Cross-border Structuring
Multi-jurisdictional holding structures, subsidiary networks, and regulatory arbitrage strategies that balance compliance burden, tax efficiency, and market access.
EMI & Payment Institution Licensing
E-money institution and payment institution authorisations in Lithuania, UK, Netherlands, and Malta. Crypto payment processing compliance and PSP structuring.
Custodian & DeFi Regulation
Crypto custody authorisations, qualified custody analysis, and regulatory structuring for DeFi protocols navigating FATF Travel Rule and securities law exposure.
Career

Professional Timeline

2019–
Present
Senior Licensing Advisor — CryptoLicenses.net, Zug

Lead advisor for complex multi-jurisdictional licensing mandates. Overseeing VASP, CASP, and EMI applications across Europe, MENA, and Asia.

2011–
2019
Head of Fintech Practice — Swiss Regulatory Law Firm, Zug

Built and led a seven-lawyer fintech regulatory group serving early-stage crypto exchanges, ICO issuers, and regulated fund managers. First FINMA crypto banking enquiry submissions in the firm's history.

2005–
2011
Associate, Financial Regulatory Group — International Law Firm, Zurich

Advised banks, asset managers, and payment institutions on FINMA licensing, prospectus regulation, and cross-border securities distribution under Swiss and EU law.

2002–
2005
Doctoral Researcher — University of Bern, Faculty of Law

Dissertation: Cross-border Financial Contracts under Swiss Private International Law. Awarded summa cum laude.

Education

Academic Background

2000–
2002
LL.M. International Financial Law — University of Zurich

Specialisation in cross-border capital markets, derivatives regulation, and international banking law.

1996–
2000
Lic. iur. (equivalent LL.B/LL.M) — University of Bern

Swiss law foundations: private law, commercial law, constitutional and administrative law. Thesis in comparative financial regulation.

Publications & Speaking

Selected Contributions

Practical guide to EU CASP authorisation for third-country firms. Covers the full application lifecycle, white-paper requirements, and passporting mechanics. Published on CryptoLicenses.net.
Analysis of the Swiss FINMA circular on crypto custody and DLT trading facilities. Identifies regulatory gaps and practical compliance strategies for FINMA-supervised crypto entities. Published in the Swiss Compliance Journal.
Regulatory panel: Navigating VASP Licensing Across Competing Frameworks. Recurring speaker addressing the practical challenges of multi-jurisdictional VASP authorization at the annual Crypto Valley Conference in Zug, Switzerland.
Operational guide to FATF Travel Rule implementation for VASPs. Covers technical solutions, counterparty verification, sunrise period strategy, and enforcement risk. Co-authored with the CryptoLicenses.net compliance team.
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Dr. Marcus Hartmann
Senior Licensing Consultant · LL.M. International Financial Law
22 years in financial services regulation. Advised 400+ crypto licensing mandates across 60+ jurisdictions. Based in Zug, Switzerland.
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