What is an SRO?
A Self-Regulatory Organisation (SRO) is a FINMA-recognised body that translates Switzerland's Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA) into industry-specific rules, supervises its members and conducts AML audits. Most non-bank financial intermediaries must join an SRO unless directly supervised by FINMA.
Who Needs SRO Membership?
Financial intermediaries within the scope of the AMLA — including certain payment service providers, non-bank financial services providers and trustees — must either be directly supervised by FINMA or join a recognised SRO.
What Business Can You Conduct?
SRO membership gives your business a "pass" to legally provide financial and crypto asset services in Switzerland and across the EEA, temporarily without requiring a MiCA licence. You can also conduct marketing activities around the platform directly (subject to target market rules).
Permitted activities include:
- Payment Processing — payment solutions, cash withdrawals, fund/crypto transfers, electronic money transfers
- Crypto Services — custody, ICO/STO/ISPO execution, stablecoin issuance, crypto-to-crypto and fiat-to-crypto exchanges
- Card Issuance — payment instruments, credit and debit cards
- Brokerage & Trading — crypto, forex, precious metals and commodities
- Financial Intermediary — facilitating loans between third parties in crypto or fiat
Swiss Tax Advantages
- Corporate income tax 11–12% (Zug canton)
- No capital gains tax
- VAT 8.1%
- Reputation & stability of Switzerland's global financial leadership
Key Requirements
- Company incorporated under Swiss law
- Local AML officer and local director appointed
- Minimum share capital (Sàrl CHF 20,000 / SA CHF 100,000)
- Physical office address in Switzerland
- Corporate and custodian bank accounts
- Approval timeline: 4–5 months after submission
How OuXin Can Help
OuXin tailors a one-stop SRO application and ongoing compliance package for non-bank financial service providers, including: eligibility assessment, gap analysis against AMLA and the chosen SRO, drafting AML/CTF policies and procedures (KYC, CDD, transaction monitoring, sanctions screening), preparing the application pack (business plan, org chart, AML officer appointment, internal controls, IT & security description), liaising with Swiss lawyers, reviewing final documents and submitting the SRO application, and post-approval compliance support (policy updates, annual audit preparation).