Italian Bank Banca Sella Receives MiCA Authorization for Cryptocurrency Operations
Starting in 2026, the financial institution will roll out services for digital asset storage, transfers and receiving capabilities targeting specific client segments.
Banca Sella, an Italian banking institution, has revealed that it successfully finalized its notification procedure with Italy's central bank in accordance with the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation from the European Union, granting the institution permission to provide services related to crypto-assets.
The financial institution stated on Wednesday that it holds the distinction of being Italy's inaugural bank granted authorization to deliver crypto-asset services. The bank further noted that this regulatory clearance will enable the rollout of a platform dedicated to the storage, transfer and receipt of digital assets beginning in 2026, designed for "selected categories" of its client base.
The Sella Group's commercial banking arm is Banca Sella. The Sella Group reports operating nearly 300 branch locations and employing a workforce exceeding 2,400 individuals.
This regulatory clearance provides Italy's banking industry with a compliant gateway into the digital asset space under MiCA regulations, as financial institutions across Europe transition from experimental crypto initiatives and collaborative arrangements toward formally licensed custody operations, tokenized payment systems and stablecoin platforms.
According to Andrea Tessera, managing director of digital banking at Banca Sella, tokenization is driving a transformation toward payments that are "instant, interoperable, and programmable." Tessera indicated that the bank's upcoming crypto service represents a component of this broader transformation.
Hype gave earlier crypto exposure
According to Banca Sella, the institution has established a dedicated internal team focused on DLT and digital assets. Additionally, the bank disclosed its role as a founding member of Qivalis, a collaborative consortium comprising 37 European banking institutions with intentions to launch a stablecoin pegged to the euro.
Previously, the banking institution maintained exposure to cryptocurrency markets via Hype, its digital banking platform, which incorporated Bitcoin wallet functionality provided by Conio, an Italian cryptocurrency company.
According to Conio, its inaugural banking integration went live in March 2020 via a collaborative arrangement with Hype, the digital banking platform under Banca Sella Group. Conio reports that Hype launched in 2020, offering retail consumers the ability to purchase, sell, send and receive digital assets.
The current Hype website promotes a Bitcoin wallet service enabling adult users to establish a wallet and purchase, sell or exchange Bitcoin through the Hype application interface.
Reuters reported in 2024 that Banca Sella's customer base numbered approximately 1.3 million, whereas Hype maintained a customer base of roughly 1.7 million.