- Maerki Baumann opened an Abu Dhabi hub after securing regulatory approval from ADGM’s financial authority.
- The Middle East hub will serve crypto, blockchain, and tech firms with regulated banking services.
- Operations in Abu Dhabi link to Zurich-based tech banking expertise built since 2019.
The Swiss private bank Maerki Baumann & Co. Ltd. has launched a branch in Abu Dhabi, following regulatory approval from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM).
The Abu Dhabi branch operates within ADGM, the emirate’s international financial center. According to the bank, the local entity will serve blockchain, crypto-native, and technology-focused companies by providing access to banking infrastructure and regulated financial services. The expansion builds on Maerki Baumann’s earlier entry into the digital asset sector, which began in 2019.
ADGM Approval Enables Regional Expansion
With the ADGM license in place, the bank has established a Middle East hub under the “ARCHIP” brand. This structure brings together services tailored to clients from the crypto and technology sectors. These services include corporate banking, liquidity management, trading, custody, staking, and digital asset management for private, institutional, and corporate clients.
While the hub is located in Abu Dhabi, client services will continue to be delivered through the bank’s Tech Banking department in Zurich. That unit has supported hundreds of technology and crypto-related clients, according to the bank.
Leadership and Operating Structure
The Middle East hub is led by Andreas Froehlicher, a lawyer who previously served as General Counsel and Head of Legal and Compliance at Maerki Baumann. He has played a role in the bank’s crypto-related strategy since 2019 and is now based in Abu Dhabi. Froehlicher reports to Lukas S. Risi, the bank’s Deputy CEO and Head of Private Banking.
In a statement, Chief Executive Officer Stephan A. Zwahlen described the ADGM license as a move in the bank’s international development. He said the expansion reflects a long-term focus on technology-oriented clients, while operational support from Switzerland maintains continuity with the bank’s existing capabilities.
Maerki Baumann’s move into digital assets has influenced its broader business model over the past several years. Alongside its traditional private banking operations, the family-owned bank now serves several hundred corporate and private clients connected to the crypto sector. The Abu Dhabi expansion aligns with that trend, positioning the Middle East hub as a regional access point within a regulated financial environment.
Related: Abu Dhabi Regulator Approves USDT on Nine Blockchains as Tether Expands Into Robotics
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