Bison Bank, a Portuguese bank specializing in private banking, wealth management, custody, and investment banking services, today announces a set of 3 strategic initiatives aimed at strengthening its leadership in financial innovation: i) the merger by incorporation of its crypto-asset subsidiary, Bison Digital Assets (BDA), ii) the development of real-world asset (RWA) tokenization capabilities, and iii) the launch of its own stablecoin in 2026, the first to be issued by a bank in Portugal.
These initiatives come as BDA celebrates its third anniversary and are designed to enhance the bank’s value proposition for its global client base, which spans over 140 countries. They also reflect the bank’s alignment with the new European regulatory framework for the crypto-asset market (Markets in Crypto-Assets, MiCA), recently published in Portugal.
Integration driven by the new MiCA framework
The core of the strategy is the merger by incorporation of Bison Digital Assets (BDA) into Bison Bank’s main structure. This means that crypto-asset deposit, transfer, and exchange services, currently provided by BDA, will become part of Bison Bank’s direct offering.
“The integration of BDA into Bison Bank is a natural move, driven by the new MiCA regulatory framework, which provides for the possibility of banks engaging in crypto-asset activities,” clarifies António Henriques, CEO of Bison Bank.
This step strengthens the bank’s strategic positioning in innovation and technology, and, António Henriques reiterates, “is being conducted with the utmost rigor and in full alignment with the institution’s commitment to transparency and the security of all formal stakeholders.”
The European MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets) regulation, which authorizes credit institutions to directly offer crypto-asset services, saw its transposition into the Portuguese context with the recent approval of Law nº 69/2025, of December 22, and is currently in the final stages of its implementation. Once completed, Bison Bank will ensure the transition of the license in full compliance with the new framework.
Real-world asset tokenization capability
Bison Bank also announces that it already possesses the necessary technology and know-how to proceed with the tokenization of Real World Assets (RWA). Tokenization, as the process of creating a ‘digital representation’ (token) of an asset on a blockchain, is analogous to buying a share in a company, and allows an asset such as a building or an investment fund to be transformed or ‘divided’ into digital fractions.
This technology not only democratizes access to high-value investments by reducing the barrier to entry but also increases and democratizes the ability to attract liquidity to these assets, making them easier to trade. New investment opportunities previously reserved for large investors become accessible to a broader audience, including individual clients, thanks to tokenization. Furthermore, blockchain registration provides greater transparency and security throughout the process. In an initial phase, Bison Bank will focus this new capability on the real estate and investment fund sectors.
Launch of the first Portuguese stablecoin
During 2026, the bank also plans to launch its own stablecoin. It will be the first to be issued by a banking institution in Portugal. Through this digital asset, designed to remain stable by being pegged to fiat currency, Bison Bank will be able to improve the efficiency of cross-border payments, reduce costs, and accelerate international transactions for its clients. The initiative positions Bison Bank as a pioneer in adopting blockchain technology to modernize payment infrastructures and aligns the Portuguese banking institution with global best regulatory and innovation practices.
“Our DNA is global. We serve clients in over 140 countries, and our duty is to eliminate the barriers that separate them from their investment opportunities,” states António Henriques. “The merger of BDA, asset tokenization, and the launch of the first Portuguese bank-issued stablecoin are not just technological steps; they are the materialization of the bank’s vision to build a real bridge between traditional finance and the digital economy. We are creating the bank of the future, today, in a regulated and secure manner. We will offer our clients – whether they are international investors, Portuguese clients seeking a global platform to diversify their investments, or digital native clients – more efficient, transparent, and secure cross-border solutions.”