Digital asset infrastructure provider Cregis has announced a strategic partnership with global banking leader Bison Bank, marking a significant step toward integrating traditional financial systems with Web3 technologies. The announcement, made on March 13, 2025 in Hong Kong, reflects a broader industry trend as financial institutions around the world search for secure, compliant, and scalable solutions to participate in the growing digital asset economy.
In this article
Why This Partnership Matters
The financial services industry is undergoing a profound transformation. Blockchain technology, digital assets, and decentralized finance are no longer fringe concepts — they are actively being explored and adopted by major institutions. Yet, despite growing interest, many traditional banks and financial service providers face real and persistent obstacles when attempting to integrate digital asset capabilities into their existing operations.
The Cregis-Bison partnership is designed specifically to address these obstacles. Together, the two companies aim to tackle three of the most pressing challenges in institutional digital asset adoption:
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- Digital asset custody compliance — ensuring that institutions can hold and manage digital assets in a manner consistent with regulatory expectations
- Cross-border payment efficiency — leveraging blockchain infrastructure to make international payments faster and less costly
- Settlement processes — streamlining the often slow and complex settlement of financial transactions through distributed ledger technology
By combining Bison Bank’s extensive global banking network with Cregis’s deep blockchain expertise, the partnership aims to deliver enterprise-grade solutions that satisfy stringent regulatory requirements while unlocking the practical benefits of decentralized technology.
Building Bridges Between Two Financial Worlds
One of the central goals of this collaboration is to create a reliable bridge between conventional banking infrastructure and the emerging Web3 ecosystem. For many institutions, the challenge has never been a lack of interest in digital assets — it has been the absence of trusted, compliant, and technically robust pathways to enter the space.
Shawn Yan, CEO of Cregis, spoke directly to this point: “This partnership represents a significant milestone in the maturation of digital asset infrastructure. By working with Bison, we’re creating a bridge that allows traditional financial institutions to confidently participate in the digital asset economy while maintaining the highest standards of security and compliance.”
This sentiment is echoed in the broader vision shared by Bison Bank. The financial services industry, as both companies acknowledge, is at a crucial inflection point. Bison’s partnership with Cregis is built on the premise that combining the innovation of Web3 technology with the security and reliability of traditional banking infrastructure can deliver the best of both worlds to clients.
Developing Standards for a Rapidly Evolving Space
Beyond product development, the partnership also includes a commitment to building industry guidelines and technical standards. This is a particularly important dimension of the collaboration, given how rapidly the digital asset space continues to evolve — and how inconsistently it is governed across different jurisdictions.
The lack of standardization has long been cited as a barrier to broader institutional adoption. Without clear technical benchmarks and regulatory frameworks, many financial institutions have been reluctant to commit significant resources to digital asset initiatives. By working together to develop these guidelines, Cregis and Bison Bank are positioning themselves not just as service providers, but as active contributors to the long-term health and credibility of the industry.
The joint initiative will focus on practical solutions for institutions managing both traditional and digital assets, with a strong emphasis on regulatory compliance and risk management — two areas that are non-negotiable for any serious financial institution.
A Strategic Focus on Asia-Pacific and Europe
Market observers have noted that this partnership is particularly well-timed for institutional adoption in the Asia-Pacific region, where both companies maintain a strong presence. Cregis operates with a significant footprint in Hong Kong, one of the world’s most active digital asset markets, while Bison Bank operates in multiple countries and regions, including Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and Beijing.
At the same time, Bison Bank’s European base gives the partnership a strong regulatory foundation. As a fully licensed financial institution headquartered in Portugal and regulated by the European Central Bank, Bison Bank brings a level of institutional credibility that few crypto-adjacent entities can match. Notably, it holds the distinction of being the first European bank approved to offer crypto services — a pioneering position that adds considerable weight to this collaboration.
The first joint solutions resulting from this partnership are expected to be rolled out in Q3 2025, with an initial focus on institutional clients across Asia and Europe. Given the complementary strengths of both organizations, the rollout is expected to address real-world institutional needs in a practical, scalable way.
About Bison Bank
Bison Bank is a fully licensed financial institution headquartered in Portugal and regulated by the European Central Bank. As the first European bank approved to offer crypto services, it is a recognized pioneer in the industry. With a strong global network spanning multiple countries and regions — including Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and Beijing — Bison Bank provides professional financial services on an international scale. Holding licenses across key markets, it offers a range of services including secure banking, crypto trading, and payment solutions. Committed to bridging traditional finance and Web3, Bison Bank upholds the values of innovation, compliance, and security in everything it does.
About Cregis
Cregis stands at the forefront of crypto infrastructure services, committed to providing secure, scalable, and user-centric solutions for digital asset management. Its offerings include a Self-Custody MPC Wallet, Wallet as a Service, and a Payment Engine — tools that empower businesses to seamlessly integrate crypto capabilities into their existing operations. By prioritizing security through advanced multi-party computation (MPC) technology and offering flexible integration options, Cregis enables institutions to navigate the evolving digital finance landscape with confidence.
For media inquiries, contact: Marketing@cregis.io
