On Friday morning, Celsion Bank announced that it has officially commenced operations after receiving a full Liechtenstein banking license in February.

The launch marks a milestone for a project that finews first reported on in 2024 under the name Celsion Finance. Since then, the initiative has evolved significantly, including a broad reshuffling of its leadership team.

New leadership

The bank is led by Markus Federspiel, former CEO of Bendura Bank, supported by a management team comprising Mauro Casellini (Chief Growth Officer), Holger Schultes (Chief Operating Officer), Harald Siegel (Chief Financial Officer), and Kevin Pekar (Chief Risk Officer). The new functions of Casellini and Pekar are subject to regulatory approval by the FMA.

Celsion is targeting financial institutions as well as institutional and professional clients seeking access to digital assets.

Infrastructure for institutional clients

At its core is an infrastructure that integrates traditional banking services with digital asset capabilities within a single system. At launch, the offering includes custody, trading, staking, and transfer services, alongside core banking functions in a fully regulated environment.

«Clients active in digital assets require a banking setup where trading, custody and payments operate seamlessly together. That is the infrastructure Celsion provides», said Chairman Lee Weiss, according to the statement.

A competitive market

Liechtenstein as a location is a strategic choice. The combination of a full banking license and MiCAR authorization provides direct access to the European single market – a regulatory advantage as competition in the digital asset space intensifies.

With this model, Celsion enters a field that has so far been dominated by a small number of specialized players. In Switzerland, Sygnum Bank has established a leading position in regulated digital asset banking for institutional clients and continues to expand internationally – reportedly also targeting the European market via a Liechtenstein MiCAR license.

Europe as the next battleground

CEO Federspiel framed the ambition accordingly: «We are not simply building another bank, but shaping a model that enables the long-term integration of traditional banking and digital assets within a fully regulated environment.»

From its Liechtenstein base – a financial centre known for its clear regulatory framework for blockchain-based business models – Celsion now aims to establish itself as a new contender in Europe’s B2B digital asset banking market.