Zand Bank and Taurus Sign Strategic Digital Asset Partnership

UAE digital bank Zand has signed a strategic partnership with Swiss digital asset infrastructure provider Taurus to offer institutional-grade custody and tokenisation services for digital assets.

The partnership positions Zand as a bridge between traditional digital banking and the emerging digital asset ecosystem. Taurus provides the infrastructure for securely storing and managing digital assets, including cryptocurrencies, tokenised securities, and other blockchain-based instruments, under institutional compliance and security standards.

Zand said the partnership will enable it to offer digital asset services to its corporate and institutional clients, responding to growing demand from UAE-based businesses and investors seeking regulated access to blockchain-based financial products. The bank operates under a full banking licence from the Central Bank of the UAE, providing clients with the regulatory assurance that is often lacking in the standalone crypto custody market.

The UAE has positioned itself as one of the most progressive regulatory environments globally for digital assets, with the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) in Dubai establishing a comprehensive licensing framework for crypto and digital asset businesses. Zand's move into digital asset custody aligns with this regulatory direction.

Taurus, headquartered in Geneva, provides digital asset infrastructure to banks and financial institutions across Europe and the Middle East. The company's platform supports multiple types of digital assets and is designed to meet the security, compliance, and audit requirements of regulated financial institutions.

The partnership reflects a broader trend of licensed banks entering the digital asset space rather than ceding the market entirely to crypto-native firms.