Last updated: April 2026
The Team

Meet Our Expert Team — Crypto Licensing Specialists

Bitcoin usd candlestick chart laptop — Meet Our Expert Team — Crypto Licensing Specialists

Swiss-headquartered lawyers, compliance officers and licensing specialists with deep expertise across EU MiCA, UAE VARA, Singapore MAS, Japan JFSA and 80+ other jurisdictions.

Our Team
Combined experience 45+ years
Jurisdictions covered 80+
Languages 8
Team size 12 specialists
Btc usd margin trading platform screen — Meet Our Expert Team — Crypto Licensing Specialists

About the Team

CryptoLicenses.net is headquartered in Zug, Switzerland — the heart of "Crypto Valley" — and operates through associate offices in Singapore, Dubai and London. Our team of 12 specialists includes qualified lawyers, CAMS-certified compliance officers, former regulatory consultants and experienced licensing advisors.

Our coverage spans every major regulatory framework: EU MiCA across all 27 member states, MENA markets through UAE VARA, ADGM and DIFC, the Asia-Pacific region via MAS, JFSA and SFC Hong Kong, and offshore centres from the Cayman Islands to Mauritius. We do not operate as generalists — every team member specializes in their region and license type.

Unlike large law firms that treat crypto licensing as a niche practice area, it is our entire focus. This means faster turnarounds, more accurate cost estimates and deeper relationships with regulators in the jurisdictions that matter most to our clients.

Lead Experts

Dr. Marcus Hartmann — Senior Crypto Licensing Advisor
Dr. Marcus Hartmann
Managing Partner — Head of European Licensing
LL.M. University of Zurich · Dr. iur. University of Bern
EU MiCA Swiss FINMA German BaFin AML/CFT

Dr. Hartmann leads our European licensing practice with 15+ years in financial regulation. A former legal counsel at a Swiss private bank, he has guided more than 60 crypto clients through EU and Swiss regulatory frameworks since 2018. He specializes in MiCA CASP applications, FINMA licensing for crypto financial intermediaries and BaFin crypto custody authorization. Dr. Hartmann is a published author on MiCA implementation and a regular speaker at European fintech conferences.

View Full Profile →
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Sophie Chen
Head of Asia-Pacific Licensing
LLB (HKU) · Admitted to Singapore Bar
MAS PSA JFSA SFC Hong Kong AUSTRAC

Sophie heads our Asia-Pacific practice from our Singapore associate office. With 10+ years advising fintech companies on MAS, SFC and JFSA licensing, she has managed more than 40 successful license applications across the region. A former regulatory affairs consultant to MAS, she brings unique insight into how Singapore's Payment Services Act is applied in practice. Sophie is fluent in English, Mandarin and Cantonese, and holds an LLB from the University of Hong Kong with admission to the Singapore Bar.

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Artem Volkov
Head of MENA & CIS Licensing
LLM (Moscow State University) · CAMS Certified
VARA Dubai ADGM DIFC CIS Jurisdictions

Artem leads our MENA and CIS licensing practice, with deep expertise in UAE free zone structures and VARA regulations. He has 8+ years advising Russian-speaking entrepreneurs and established fintech firms on offshore and UAE crypto structures. Artem is CAMS-certified and specializes in AML program design for clients operating across the CIS region. He is fluent in Russian, English and Arabic, and maintains strong professional relationships with UAE free zone authorities and VARA's regulatory team.

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Elena Baumann
AML / Compliance Director
CAMS · CFE · MSc Financial Crime (University of Portsmouth)
AML Program Design Travel Rule FATF Compliance Ongoing Monitoring

Elena oversees all compliance program design across our client portfolio. A former compliance officer at a Swiss cantonal bank, she has designed more than 100 AML/CFT programs for crypto businesses across every major jurisdiction. Elena is a recognized specialist in FATF Travel Rule implementation, transaction monitoring frameworks, and regulatory examination preparation. She holds CAMS and CFE certifications alongside an MSc in Financial Crime from the University of Portsmouth.

Our Advisory Network

Beyond our core team, we maintain a carefully curated network of external advisors in key jurisdictions: local law firms, specialist regulatory consultants and, in several cases, former regulators who now advise in private practice. These relationships give our clients access to jurisdiction-specific expertise and practical intelligence that generalist advisors simply cannot match.

We refer to external advisors only where their specific local expertise adds genuine value — and we are always transparent with clients about when and why we are doing so.

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European Union
Partner law firms in France (AMF), Germany (BaFin), Malta (MFSA) and Cyprus (CySEC). Former AMF digital assets officer on advisory panel.
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UAE
DIFC-regulated law firm partner for VARA and ADGM matters. Former VARA regulatory team member available for complex applications.
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Singapore
Singapore-admitted law firm covering MAS PSA applications. Former MAS inspector available for Payment Services Act guidance.
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Japan
Tokyo-based partner firm with deep JFSA VASP registration experience. Japanese-language application management available.
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United Kingdom
FCA-authorized law firm partner for FCA crypto registration. Former FCA financial crime specialist on advisor panel.
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USA
US securities law counsel for token classification, FinCEN MSB registration and state money transmitter licensing guidance.

Join the Team

We're Growing

CryptoLicenses.net is always interested in hearing from experienced regulatory lawyers, compliance officers and licensing specialists who want to work at the forefront of crypto regulation. We value deep expertise over broad generalism, and we offer flexible working arrangements for the right candidates.

We are particularly interested in specialists with hands-on experience in: EU MiCA CASP applications, UAE VARA licensing, Singapore MAS PSA, Japan JFSA VASP registration, or FATF Travel Rule compliance implementation.

Send your CV and a brief note on your regulatory specialization to careers@cryptolicenses.net. All applications are treated in strict confidence.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Our core legal team members hold law degrees and relevant bar admissions or legal qualifications from their home jurisdictions. Dr. Marcus Hartmann holds a doctorate in law from the University of Bern. Sophie Chen is admitted to the Singapore Bar. Our compliance specialists hold recognized professional certifications including CAMS and CFE. Full credentials are listed on each expert's profile page.
Our team works in 8 languages: English, German, French, Italian, Mandarin, Cantonese, Russian and Arabic. All regulatory applications are prepared in the required local language by native or near-native speakers with specialist regulatory vocabulary.
Our headquarters is in Zug, Switzerland (Grafenauweg 4, 6300 Zug). We operate associate offices in Singapore (for APAC coverage) and Dubai (for MENA coverage), and maintain a partner relationship with a London-based firm for UK matters. For other jurisdictions, we work with carefully selected local partners.
Every client engagement is led by the relevant regional expert. For an EU MiCA application, Dr. Hartmann or a member of his European team leads. For a Singapore MAS application, Sophie Chen's team leads. You will always have a named lead advisor and direct access to them — we do not hand clients off to juniors after engagement.
We maintain professional relationships with regulatory bodies in our key jurisdictions through legitimate professional channels: industry working groups, published responses to consultations, and our advisory network which includes several former regulators. We do not claim any improper influence over regulators — our value is in preparing applications that meet regulatory standards, not in circumventing them.
Licensing costs vary significantly depending on the activity type and jurisdiction within Switzerland. For a basic crypto trading or custody license, expect professional fees between CHF 15,000 to CHF 50,000, plus regulatory filing fees of CHF 5,000 to CHF 20,000. Complex applications involving multiple service offerings or cross-border operations may reach CHF 100,000 or more when including all compliance infrastructure setup.
The standard timeline is 3 to 6 months for straightforward applications under FINMA supervision, though this can extend to 9-12 months if regulators request substantial additional documentation or compliance modifications. Applications filed in Zug's canton often benefit from streamlined processing due to established regulatory frameworks, potentially reducing timelines by 4-8 weeks compared to other Swiss cantons.
You will need articles of association, shareholder structure documentation, detailed compliance and AML/KYC policies, organizational charts with CVs of key personnel, business plans with financial projections, IT security assessments, and proof of minimum capital requirements (typically CHF 100,000 for trading or CHF 500,000+ for custody operations). Additionally, FINMA requires documented policies for market abuse prevention, customer protection, and operational resilience.
Zug offers competitive corporate tax rates of approximately 11.6% at cantonal level for trading and service activities, with additional federal and municipal taxes bringing total rates to around 13-14%. Cryptocurrency transaction taxation depends on your specific business model: trading income is taxed as ordinary income, while capital gains on holdings may benefit from preferential treatment under certain conditions. We recommend engaging a local tax advisor to optimize your structure, as tax treatment continues evolving with SECO and cantonal guidance.
Securing a banking partner is increasingly critical in 2026, as most Swiss banks have withdrawn from crypto-related services; however, specialized banks like Sygnum and certain regional institutions still support licensed crypto businesses. We recommend identifying banking partners before formal application, as FINMA often requests proof of banking arrangements during review. Establishing relationships typically takes 2-4 months and requires extensive compliance documentation from your bank.
Primary risks include regulatory changes to FINMA guidance, potential asset seizure if compliance failures are discovered, and reputational damage from association with illicit activities. Swiss regulators are increasingly stringent on cross-border customer verification and sanctions screening, with penalties reaching CHF 50,000+ for material breaches. Additionally, the evolving EU regulatory landscape through MiCA directly impacts Zug-based operators serving European customers, requiring continuous compliance monitoring.
Swiss crypto licenses do not have fixed expiration dates; instead, they require continuous compliance with evolving FINMA standards and annual reporting of financial statements, shareholder changes, and AML/KYC audit results. We recommend conducting comprehensive compliance reviews every 12-18 months and maintaining detailed documentation of all regulatory updates. Failure to maintain compliance can result in license suspension or revocation, with recovery periods extending 6-12 months.

Work with Our Team

Get a free consultation with the relevant regional specialist for your jurisdiction and license type.

Book Free Consultation →
Team Stats
Combined experience 45+ years
Jurisdictions 80+
Languages 8
Team size 12 specialists
MH
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.
Free Consultation

Ready to Get Licensed?

Tell us about your project and we'll identify the right jurisdiction, outline the requirements, and give you a realistic cost estimate — at no charge.

  • 🇨🇭 Swiss-registered firm, Zug
  • ⚡ Response within a few hours
  • 🔒 Strictly confidential
  • ✓ 80+ jurisdictions covered

Confidential · No obligation · No spam