AMINA Bank Launches Regulated Institutional Staking for Polygon (POL) Token, Offering Up to 15% Rewards

Executive Summary

AMINA Bank, a Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA)-regulated institution, has launched regulated institutional staking services for Polygon's native POL token. This offering makes AMINA Bank the first globally to provide such a service, enabling qualified institutional participants, including asset managers and corporate treasuries, to earn up to 15% in staking rewards through a collaboration with the Polygon Foundation. The move is seen as a significant step in bridging traditional finance with decentralized networks, offering a compliant avenue for institutions to engage with blockchain infrastructure.

The Event in Detail

AMINA Bank AG, based in Zug, Switzerland, has announced the global rollout of regulated staking services for POL, the native token of the Polygon ecosystem. This marks a first for any regulated bank worldwide, building upon AMINA Bank's existing POL custody and trading access. The service targets qualified institutional participants such as ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs), asset managers, family offices, pension funds, and corporate treasuries. Clients can achieve staking rewards of up to 15%, a figure derived from AMINA Bank's standard staking rewards, typically 4-5%, augmented by an additional incentive boost provided by the Polygon Foundation. The initiative ensures adherence to regulatory standards, requiring clients to meet AMINA Bank's Know Your Customer (KYC) and compliance requirements. AMINA Bank holds a banking and securities dealer license from FINMA and has secured approvals from regulators in Abu Dhabi and Hong Kong, underscoring its commitment to regulated digital asset services.

Financial Mechanics

The staking reward structure for POL on AMINA Bank comprises a base yield supplemented by additional incentives from the Polygon Foundation, culminating in potential annual rewards of up to 15%. Specifically, the Polygon Knowledge Layer outlines scenarios where a 15% annual reward is projected if 40% of the circulating supply is staked in the first year, or if 10% of the circulating supply is staked in the fifth year. These rewards are structured as a fixed yearly incentive, distributed periodically to all participating signers, irrespective of the overall network stake or target bonding rate. Furthermore, Polygon incorporates an incentive for validators who commit periodic checkpoints to the Ethereum mainnet, providing a bonus to cover the costs associated with this Layer 2 responsibility. This combined mechanism aims to provide attractive, consistent returns for institutional participants while securing the network.

Business Strategy & Market Positioning

AMINA Bank's expansion into POL staking aligns with its strategy to bridge traditional finance with the burgeoning Web3 ecosystem. By offering regulated access to staking rewards, the bank aims to enable institutional clients to participate in securing a network that is increasingly forming the backbone of institutional Web3 adoption. Polygon has solidified its position as a leading institutional blockchain infrastructure, currently supporting nearly $3 billion in stablecoin market capitalization and exceeding $1 billion in tokenized real-world assets on its Proof-of-Stake (PoS) blockchain. Major institutional deployments on Polygon include BlackRock's BUIDL Fund, a tokenized money-market fund. Leading financial institutions such as BlackRock, JPMorgan, and Franklin Templeton have chosen Polygon for their expansion into tokenization and on-chain finance, further validating its utility. Myles Harrison, Chief Product Officer of AMINA Bank, stated that this expansion provides clients with regulated access to the blockchain, enabling them to be rewarded for contributing to network stability and security.

Market Implications

This initiative by AMINA Bank carries several significant market implications. The provision of regulated institutional staking for POL is expected to increase institutional interest and potentially drive capital flow into the Polygon ecosystem. It establishes a compliant model for institutional engagement with decentralized finance (DeFi) and staking activities, which may encourage other regulated financial institutions to explore similar crypto offerings. Long-term, this move contributes to the further legitimization and integration of crypto staking into mainstream financial products, accelerating institutional engagement with digital assets. The regulatory clarity provided by AMINA Bank's licenses (FINMA, Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong) helps de-risk institutional participation, fostering bullish sentiment for institutional adoption and contributing to the evolution of global regulatory frameworks for digital assets.

Broader Context

The launch of regulated POL staking by AMINA Bank occurs within an evolving global regulatory landscape for digital assets. Jurisdictions worldwide are actively shaping frameworks to accommodate crypto activities, including staking services. In April 2025, Hong Kong's Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) released new guidelines allowing licensed platforms to offer crypto staking under strict conditions, requiring full control of staked assets, robust disclosure, risk controls, and explicit regulatory approvals. Similarly, in January 2025, a statutory instrument in certain jurisdictions removed crypto staking from the definition of "collective investment schemes," facilitating regulated staking services. While European Union's Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation, effective fully from December 2024, sets comprehensive standards, and the U.S. progresses with legislation like the STABLE Act and GENIUS Act, the global trend points towards increasing regulatory oversight and clarity. This environment, characterized by both tightening oversight and the development of clear guidelines, underscores the importance of compliant offerings like AMINA Bank's in fostering broader institutional participation in the digital asset space.