Bank of Italy Clears Banca Sella for Crypto Services Launch in 2026

Banca Sella is preparing to become the first Italian bank to offer crypto-related services under Europe’s digital asset rulebook, marking another step in the region’s push to bring crypto activity into regulated finance.

The Italian banking group said it has completed the required notification process with the Bank of Italy. That clears the path for Banca Sella to launch digital asset custody and transfer services as early as 2026.

The services will not be offered broadly at first. Banca Sella said they will be aimed at specific categories of customers, suggesting a cautious rollout as banks across Europe weigh client demand, regulatory duties, and operational risk.

The move comes as the European Union’s Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) regulation reshapes how banks, exchanges, and other firms can provide crypto services. For Banca Sella, the approval process gives it a first-mover position in Italy’s regulated banking sector.

Andrea Tessera, Banca Sella’s managing director of digital banking, remarked on the shift toward digital assets.

The evolution of payments toward instant, interoperable, and programmable models is redefining financial infrastructures at the European and global levels. Banca Sella’s new service fits within this landscape.

Banca Sella has been active in blockchain and digital asset initiatives for several years. Since 2022, it has taken part in a trial promoted by the Bank of Italy’s Fintech Milano Hub. The bank said it has also invested in the technology and skills needed to work with distributed ledger technology, blockchain systems, and digital assets.

Banca Sella is also a founding member of Qivalis, a consortium of 37 European banks working on a euro-backed stablecoin. The project reflects growing interest among banks in blockchain-based settlement and digital forms of fiat.

The announcement shows how traditional banks are moving closer to digital assets by building services inside a regulated framework. For Italy, Banca Sella’s entry could set a benchmark for how other lenders approach crypto custody, transfers, and tokenized finance under MiCA.