#topnews UBS Plans Crypto Trading For Wealthy Clients: Bloomberg
UBS Group AG, the world’s largest wealth manager, is planning to launch cryptocurrency trading services for a select group of its private banking clients.
According to a report from Bloomberg, the Swiss banking giant is currently in the process of selecting partners to facilitate the purchase and sale of Bitcoin and Ether. The initiative marks a significant reversal for a firm that has historically maintained a cautious posture toward the digital asset class.
The Zurich-based bank, which oversaw $4.7tn in wealth assets as of late 2025, intends to debut the offering for its private bank clients in Switzerland. Deliberations have reportedly been ongoing for several months, with potential rollouts discussed for the US and Asia Pacific markets. This move highlights a broader institutional pivot as global lenders react to the post-Trump regulatory landscape in Washington and increasing pressure from Wall Street rivals.
Capitulation of the Swiss old guard
The shift in strategy represents a departure from the bearish stance long maintained by former UBS leadership. Previous chairman Axel Weber once argued that the concept of anonymous payments would not survive the scrutiny of global regulators. However, the current administration's decision to treat digital assets as a national strategic priority has forced a reassessment. UBS is now following the lead of firms like Morgan Stanley, which is using a partnership with ZeroHash to offer token trading to its E*Trade clients.
The move is also a response to shifting profitability in the sector. While legacy banks were previously content to focus on the underlying blockchain infrastructure, the massive trading revenues seen by firms like Robinhood have made the business case for spot trading undeniable. By offering direct access to Bitcoin and Ether, UBS aims to retain high net worth clients who might otherwise migrate capital to crypto native platforms or US-based spot ETFs, which now oversee nearly $140bn in assets. #BTC
