Swissquote
Swiss banking group
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Swissquote Group Holding Ltd is a Swiss banking group specialising in providing online financial services in trading, investment and banking. Its headquarters are in Gland, Switzerland, and its shares have been listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange under the ticker symbol "SQN" since 29 May 2000.
| |
 Headquarters in Gland. | |
| Company type | Public limited company |
|---|---|
| SIX Swiss Exchange SQN | |
| ISIN | CH0010675863 |
| Industry | Banking |
| Founded | 2000[1] |
| Founder | Marc Bürki and Paolo Buzzi |
| Headquarters | Gland, Switzerland |
Key people | Marc Bürki (CEO), Alexandru Craciun (CTO), Morgan Lavanchy (CLO), Gilles Chantrier (CRO), Yvan Cardenas (CFO), Nestor Verrier (COO), Jan De Schepper (CSO), Tara Yip (CPO) |
| Products | Trading, Investment and Banking |
| 664.3 million CHF (2024)[2] | |
| 294.2 million CHF (2024)[2] | |
| Total equity | 1,133.0 million CHF (2024)[2] |
Number of employees | 1,217[2] (2024) |
| Website | www.swissquote.com |
Swissquote Bank Ltd holds a banking licence issued by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA).[3] As of 31 December 2024, Swissquote reported client assets of CHF 76.3 billion across 650,089 customer accounts and had 1,217 employees.[2]
History
1990–2017
In 1990, Marc Bürki and Paolo Buzzi founded Marvel Communication SA, a company specialising in financial software applications. The company served as the precursor to Swissquote, which was established in 1996 as a financial platform offering private investors real-time access to securities traded on the Swiss exchange.[4][5]
On 29 May 2000, Swissquote went public on the SIX Swiss Exchange under the symbol SQN. In the same year, the company obtained its banking licence.[6][7][8]
In 2009, Swissquote created a chair in quantitative finance at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL).[9] In 2010, it acquired Tradejet AG and ACM Advanced Currency Markets AG, expanding its operations to include online Forex trading.[10][8][5][11] In 2012, Swissquote partnered with Goldman Sachs and UBS to launch the Swiss Derivatives OTC Trading System (Swiss DOTS). Commerzbank joined the platform in 2014, followed by Deutsche Bank in 2015.[8]
In September 2013, Swissquote acquired MIG Bank, a firm specialising in Forex trading.[12][13]
In January 2015, following the Swiss National Bank's decision to discontinue the minimum exchange rate of 1.20 CHF per euro, Swissquote set aside a reserve of CHF 25 million.[14] On 9 February 2015, Swissquote Financial Services surrendered its Category 3 Investment Services Licence to the Malta Financial Services Authority.[15]
2018 – present
In August 2018, Swissquote acquired the Luxembourg-based Internaxx Bank SA to expand its access to the European market. Following regulatory approval by the European Central Bank and the CSSF in Luxembourg, the company was renamed Swissquote Bank Europe SA and became a fully owned entity of the Swissquote Group.[16][17][18]
In 2019, the company expanded in the Asia-Pacific region by opening Swissquote Singapore Pte.[19]
In April 2021, Yuh Ltd. was founded as a joint venture between Swissquote Bank AG and PostFinance AG.[20] In July 2025, Swissquote acquired PostFinance's 50% stake, taking full ownership of Yuh.[21]
In October 2022, Swissquote launched a crypto exchange, SQX, and gained access to the Dubai Financial Market.[22][23]
In May 2023, Swissquote partnered with investment firm Stableton and Morningstar Indexes to launch an actively managed certificate (AMC) targeted at Swiss retail investors.[24]
In 2024, Swissquote introduced fractional share trading for retail investors.[25] It also expanded its collaboration with BNP Paribas' Securities Services business.[26]
Controversies and regulatory issues
In November 2019, the Swiss Public Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation into Swissquote Bank over allegations of money laundering. The bank was suspected of facilitating the concealment of over $100 million in funds allegedly evading tax authorities, which had been transferred from the Puerto Rican bank Blue Ocean by the Helin Group.[27][28][29]
On 11–12 November 2022, the platform experienced a DDoS attack and was unavailable for a significant period.[30]
In January 2023, the Sanctions Commission of SIX Group AG fined Swissquote CHF 75,000 for a negligent breach of the provisions on ad hoc publicity, and Swissquote did not appeal.[31]
In January 2025, the Luxembourg financial regulator (CSSF) issued a warning about websites impersonating Swissquote Bank Europe SA.[32]
In July 2025, Swissquote's CEO said the company had been asked by FINMA to do more to curb suspicious activity amid an increase in attempted fraud and hacks.[33]
Operations
Swissquote provides online banking, investment and trading services, including trading in equities, funds, bonds, warrants, options and futures, as well as foreign exchange and cryptocurrency-related services.[2]
Business model
Vontobel Equity Research described Swissquote as a scalable platform business with revenue that is more diversified than that of typical online brokers, with major sources including net fee and commission income, net interest income and income from cryptocurrency trading.[34]
While Swissquote advertises commission-free trading (excluding share CFDs), its spreads and swap charges have been described as higher than some competitors, and it also imposes additional quarterly fees, custody fees for private customers, and fees for withdrawals.[35][36]
Swissquote's net revenues increased from about CHF 655 million in 2024 to at least CHF 720 million in 2025, while pre-tax profit rose from at least CHF 345 million to close to CHF 420 million.[37][38] Swissquote attributed part of its 2024 performance to favourable market conditions towards the end of the year, particularly in the cryptocurrency sector, and that client assets rose from CHF 76.3 billion at end-2024 to nearly CHF 89 billion at end-2025.[39][40] In its annual report for 2024, Swissquote reported operating income of CHF 664.3 million and net profit of CHF 294.2 million.[2]
Sponsorship
From January 2015 to May 2021, Swissquote was the official partner of Manchester United.[41][42]
By 2020, the company became the official sponsor of the Swiss ice Genève-Servette HC (GSHC).[43] In 2021, it became the official sponsor of the ZSC Lions.[44][45]
In 2021, the company signed a three-year sponsorship deal with UEFA, covering the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Europa Conference League.[46] In February 2024, UEFA announced a renewal of the partnership through 2027.[47]
In December 2024, Swissquote, along with its joint venture Yuh, was announced as an Official National Partner for the UEFA Women's EURO 2025, set to be held in Switzerland.[48][49]