Switzerland’s state-owned PostFinance AG has introduced Ethereum staking, allowing customers to earn passive income while securing the network.
Swiss state-owned bank PostFinance AG has taken another step into the digital asset space by launching Ethereum (ETH) staking, allowing customers to earn passive income on their holdings.
On January 16, 2025, Blomberg reported citing an official statement from the bank that it now allows Ethereum staking directly on its platform. Through the new service, users can pledge as little as 0.1 ETH to help validate blockchain transactions and receive staking rewards.
A 12 Weeks Lock-in Period
The bank confirmed that the staked Ethereum will be locked up for a minimum of 12 weeks before rewards could be distributed. With Ethereum as the only cryptocurrency on the staking program, PostFinance said it plans to add support for additional tokens in the near future.
The bank has been steadily expanding its digital asset offerings since its foray into the crypto market in April 2023 through a strategic partnership with Sygnum Bank.
The deal allowed the financial services company to offer its 2.5 million customers to buy, sell, and store digital assets, making PostFinance the first systemically important Swiss bank to provide such services.
By February 2024, the bank had introduced crypto trading and custody services to deepen its footprint into the industry. At the time, PostFinance offered access to 11 cryptocurrencies with the ability to set up crypto savings plans.
However, with the addition of Ethereum staking, the bank is further reinforcing its commitment to blockchain technology and decentralized finance (DeFi).
Growing Crypto Enthusiasm in Switzerland
Meanwhile, the bank’s expansion comes at a time of rising interest in digital assets across Switzerland. Recently, a group of Swiss crypto advocates proposed a national referendum to push for the Swiss National Bank (SNB) to hold Bitcoin (BTC) as part of its reserves alongside the dollar, euro, and gold.
The proposal, announced on December 31, 2024, needs as many as 100,000 signatures to qualify for a public referendum, according to Tether’s Vice President of Energy and Mining, Giw Zanganeh.
Zanganeh spearheaded the initiative alongside Yves Bennaïm, the founder and chairman of the Swiss Bitcoin nonprofit think tank 2B4CH, along with eight other Bitcoin proponents.
Despite this move, the SNB had earlier disclosed that it is skeptical about integrating cryptocurrencies into its monetary system, making the proposal unlikely to pass.
Regardless of the outcome, Switzerland remains a leading global hub for blockchain innovation. In November 2024, the parliament of the Swiss canton of Bern approved a motion to commission a report on Bitcoin mining.
The report aims to explore potential sources of excess energy within the canton, opportunities for collaboration with Swiss Bitcoin miners, and the role of Bitcoin mining in enhancing the stability of the electricity grid.
next