Incorporating a Swiss Company with Crypto

Introduction

Can you really found a Swiss company and pay in the initial capital with crypto?
Yes, Swiss law allows it, provided you follow a few well-defined steps. At Lexify, we guide founders through this process end-to-end so the legal, audit, and notary pieces fit together smoothly.

First, pick the right vehicle

In Switzerland, most founders choose between an AG (Stock Corporation) and a GmbH (Limited Liability Company).

AG: Minimum capital CHF 100,000, with CHF 50,000 paid in at incorporation. Shareholders are not listed in the Commercial Register (board members are), which can be attractive if you value owner privacy or plan for future fundraising.
GmbH: Minimum capital CHF 20,000, fully paid in at incorporation. Shareholders are named in the Commercial Register, which offers transparency among partners and is often ideal for smaller teams.

Rule of thumb: choose an AG for privacy and scalability; a GmbH for simplicity and lower minimum capital.

How crypto fits in – “contribution in kind”

Swiss corporate law permits the initial capital to be provided in kind as long as the asset:

has a measurable economic value,
can be transferred to the company and used in its business, and
can be realised or transferred to third parties.

Cryptocurrencies qualify on these points. The key is independent valuation: an auditor confirms the value at a fixed cut-off date, and the contribution is described in the incorporation documents (what asset, how much, who contributes it, and which shares are issued in return).

Stablecoins vs. non-pegged crypto: build a volatility buffer

In practice, notaries and registries typically ask for a fluctuation reserve to handle price swings between valuation and filing:

Stablecoins (e.g., USDT) → reserve 10% of the initial capital
- At the minimums: AG → CHF 10,000; GmbH → CHF 2,000
Non-pegged crypto (e.g., BTC) → reserve 30% of the initial capital
- At the minimums: AG → CHF 30,000; GmbH → CHF 6,000

This buffer helps ensure the contributed value won’t dip below the legal minimum during incorporation.

What the process actually looks like

Structuring – We help you decide AG vs. GmbH, capital levels, and whether to use stablecoins or non-pegged crypto.
Valuation – An independent auditor confirms the crypto’s value as of a clear cut-off date.
Paperwork – We prepare the contribution-in-kind agreement, tailor the articles, and coordinate the auditor’s confirmation.
Wallet logistics – The crypto is transferred to a company-controlled wallet (segregated and named for the new entity), with a clean evidence trail (hashes, explorer links, screenshots, attestations).
Notary & filing – We handle notarisation and submission to the Commercial Register.
Registration & go-live – Once registered, the company can freely use the contributed crypto.

If you’re exploring an AG or GmbH funded with crypto, we’ll map your route, propose a realistic timetable, and assemble the right audit and notary team for your canton.

You get a law-first, crypto-native team that aligns notaries, auditors, and registries so your incorporation is compliant, efficient, and execution-ready. We also advise on KYC/AML, banking interfaces, and the legal building blocks for future token or Web3 plans.

Download PDF

Connect with us

Thank you for taking the time to read our article. We hope you found it informative and engaging. If you have any questions, feedback, or would like to explore our services further, we’re here to assist you.